Former India cricketer Surinder Khanna did not hold back in criticizing the selectors’ decision to ignore Karun Nair for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, despite his outstanding form with the bat in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.
Karun Nair made 779 runs in just seven matches with the help of five hundreds at an incredible average of 389.5, and remained unbeaten in six consecutive innings in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. His amazing batting performance created a lot of buzz among the cricket pundits.
Surinder Khanna criticizes Indian selectors for ignoring Karun Nair despite his phenomenal performance in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.
Many former cricketers said this was Nair’s moment for a long-awaited return to the international scene after almost a decade, but the Indian selectors left him heartbroken once again, dropping the Vidarbha captain for the ODIs in England and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Expressing his frustrations over Karun Nair being snubbed, Surinder Khanna questioned the decision to ignore the 33-year-old batsman for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He stressed that Nair deserved to be picked in the CT 2025 squad.
The former Indian cricketer also noted that the Indian cricket team needs younger, more agile players for the fast-paced demands of the ODI format, targeting Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.
I think Karun Nair was unlucky: Surinder Khanna
ANI quoted Surinder Khanna, “I think Karun Nair is unlucky. I would like to be the chairman of the selectors. He hit 300 in the Test match and disappeared after that. Now suddenly the moon has come out again, so that moon should shine for 2-3 years, and how long can you have 35-36 years in the team? It is a one-day format; you need quick movements on the field.”
Meanwhile, Surinder Khanna did not hold back in his scathing criticism of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He dismissed Rohit Sharma wrongly, saying that if the Indian captain is stationed on the boundary, the opposition can easily steal runs.
Khanna also pointed out that Virat Kohli’s bowling in the slips and inside the circle is no longer effective, which is affecting the overall performance of the Indian team. However, Kohli is one of the best players in the world.
Captain is also weak: Surinder Khanna on Rohit Sharma
Khanna further observed, “The captain is also weak. I mean if you field Rohit Sharma on the boundary then two runs will be taken easily. Virat Kohli also bowls in slips and only fields inside the circle. Kohli does not run on the field; he works hard in the circle. I hope that everyone will mentally train and focus and return to their form.”
However, the former cricketer welcomed the national selectors’ decision to name Shubman Gill as India’s vice-captain for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, saying it was a very good and positive development. He signed off saying Gill shows promise but stressed the youngster needs to find his form with the bat, which is the main thing for him and the team.
