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After a long wait, the India squad for the upcoming three-match ODI home series and the Champions Trophy was announced yesterday. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Rohit Sharma revealed the names during a press conference. All eyes were on whether the in-form Vidarbha skipper, Karun Nair, would make the cut.
In the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, Nair led his team to the final, where they lost to Karnataka by 36 runs. He emerged as the tournament's highest run-scorer, amassing 779 runs in eight innings at a staggering average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.50.
His performance included five centuries and a six and saw him dismissed only twice. Despite these phenomenal stats, it was anticipated that making it to the Champions Trophy squad would be challenging. However, fans expected his domestic feats to earn him a place in the ODI series squad. Surprisingly, Nair was snubbed and did not find a spot.
Agarkar was questioned about the decision and responded by saying it was difficult to fit everyone into the final 15-member squad despite those colossal performances.
He said: “Yeah, it was tough. Those are really special performances. Someone who averages 700-plus. We did have a chat. At the moment, finding a spot in the squad in this team is really difficult. Look at the guys who have been picked. All average well in excess of mid-40s. Unfortunately, you can't fit everyone in a squad of 15. But those performances certainly make you take notice. If there is a loss of form (for a player) or injuries, there's certainly going to be a conversation around him.”
Fans expressed their frustration on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Many former players, including Venkatesh Prasad and Harbhajan Singh, also criticized Nair's omission despite his consistent domestic performances. Harbhajan even questioned the purpose of playing domestic cricket if form and performance were not rewarded. Prasad added that selecting Nair for the England series would have encouraged other players to perform well in domestic matches in the future.
Here is how fans have reacted to the snub of Karun Nair from Team India
https://x.com/venkateshprasad/status/1880196607599382645
https://x.com/harbhajan_singh/status/188060435330172521
https://x.com/shreevats1/status/1880548512909426908
https://x.com/NagaBharath786/status/1880747805188501977
https://x.com/vedic_aryan/status/1880762077780058241
https://x.com/tweetreal2020/status/1880762337315143799
https://x.com/drvnanduri/status/1880767987776643147
https://x.com/MadrasEye1/status/1880770496792592858