“I think I deserve a lot better, more than a series” - Disappointed Karun Nair hits out at Ajit Agarkar for his non-selection

Karun Nair, who smacked his 25th first-class century against Goa in the ongoing second round of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign, has finally broken the silence on his snub from the recently concluded West Indies Test series.

Speaking to the reporters after the day’s play, the Karnataka batter has asserted that it was quite disappointing to miss out on the selection for the West Indies series after putting up a lot of hard work in the last two years, adding that he deserved a lot better than one series.

“Obviously, it is quite disappointing. After the last two years I’ve had, I think I deserve a lot better. More than a series. There are certain individuals in the [Indian] team who have had good conversations with me about how they felt. That’s about it,” Nair told reporters after the day’s play.

“It does get into the head. But the second thought would be to do your job, which is to score runs and let people have their opinions. Honestly, what target can I have next? All I want to do is to play for the country. If you’re not able to do that, the next thing would be to try and win games for the side you are playing for,” he added.

On his return to his state team, Karnataka, Nair smacked 73 and 8 in the first round against Saurashtra. In the second round, he went on to score 174* off 267 deliveries with 14 fours and three sixes against Goa, batting at No.4.

Speaking on Nair’s exclusion from the Indian Test squad, the chief selector Ajit Agarkar had stated that he would have loved to give 15-20 chances to every cricketer to prove their worth, but it doesn’t work that way. 

“We expected more from him (in England). He played four Tests, and there was just one fifty. We would like to give 15-20 chances to everyone, but unfortunately, it does not work that way,” Ajit Agarkar had said.

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