From Crisis to Comeback: How a WhatsApp Group Revived Karun Nair’s Career

Six hundred practice balls each day, a spell with a county side, and his successful tenure with Vidarbha have fueled Karun Nair’s return to the Indian Test squad after a seven-year absence. (Express Photo/PTI)

“I’m not sure what action to take, sir. Shall we discuss this further and come up with a plan?”

Coach Vijayakumar Madyalkar clearly recalls the solemn night when his ex-Karnataka U-25 player arrived at his academy seeking help to resurrect his cricketing career. India’s second Test triple-century maker, Karun Nair, found himself without options following Karnataka—his home state for many years in his developmental stages—unexpectedly rejecting him post the 2022 season in June.

A heartfelt post on Twitter during the winter of 2022 would not have been sufficient to bridge the growing divide between him and ‘Dear Cricket.’ Resolute, Nair began rebuilding his career slowly but steadily alongside Madyalkar and through a dedicated WhatsApp group.

On Saturday, Nair’s ‘Comeback Season’ group achieved its objective after two long years of hard work, dedication, and silent perseverance. After seven years, an unexpected Test comeback became reality throughout a historic domestic season spanning various formats. As Team India undergoes transformation, they aim to rely on Nair’s seasoned experience as they enter a new phase led by Shubman Gill in the upcoming World Test Championship cycle.

Finding feet

Recently, things came to a halt for Nair as he searched for solutions amid the difficult experience of being rejected from Karnataka in July ’22 and his return to First-Class cricket approximately 14 months later with Northamptonshire.

Heading to his previous Karnataka U-19 and U-25 mentor Madyalkar at the Just Cricket Academy on the edge of Bengaluru, Nair traveled almost three hours twice a week for an intense session aimed at rebuilding his skills.

“He was deeply troubled inside. I chose not to delve into the reasons behind his exclusion from the Karnataka team. Instead, I simply assured him not to be concerned and suggested focusing solely on nurturing his batting abilities and enhancing those skills as effectively as we could,” explains Madyalkar.

‘600 a day’

Six months. He would go to bat for exactly 600 balls every other day, taking turns against sidearm throwers and various bowlers at our academy.

Given his experience with players like KL Rahul and Nair from their younger years, Madyalkar emphasizes that both focused on enhancing their intensity and refining their shots rather than making significant technical changes.

The absence of local games during an entire domestic season caused anxiety. “He needed to play and showcase his skills, yet we couldn’t secure any playing time for him domestically. With no chances available in India while the season was underway, he seized the opportunity presented by the county assignment that followed after a lengthy gap.”

Upon reaching the Oval – the site of his 2018 disappointment and dismissal from the Indian team – Nair delivered a performance that could revitalize his career with an impressive 150 runs in just his second County Championship Division 1 match for Northamptonshire.

This period will set the stage for an important guest appearance as part of Vidarbha’s team for the 2023-24 season, potentially bringing his red-ball skills back onto the national radar. With 1553 runs scored across 33 innings—including a standout Ranji Trophy performance where he amassed 883 runs leading to a championship victory for Vidarbha—Nair’s resilience in the middle order has proven valuable enough to warrant consideration from the national squad amidst recent issues concerning test cricket.

“He has impressed the national selectors with his performance, warranting a call-back,” says Vidarbha coach Usman Ghani to The Indian Express, reminiscing about how smoothly Nair adapted to the team during his initial year.

Looking back, Ghani states that promoting Nair to lead in the 50-over format for the Vijay Hazare Trophy competition earlier this year turned out to be an innovative strategy.

Nair delivered an extraordinary performance in the Ranji Trophy knockouts, scoring 423 runs which included a century during the final against Kerala in March of this year. (PTI)

“When Karun joined as a player, he was assigned to strengthen the middle order. In his very first season, he excelled, prompting us to appoint him as the captain for the Vijay Hazare tournament this year. This increased responsibility really brought out the best in him. His continued momentum and self-assurance carried over into the knockout stages of the Ranji Trophy,” explains Ghani.

Even though Nair fell just short of victory in the final against Karnataka during the VHT, his remarkable performance with 779 runs at an average of 389.50 and five consecutive centuries sparked discussions about his potential return to the Indian team. His outstanding performances in the Ranji Trophy knockouts—scoring 423 runs overall, including a century in the final against Kerala in March—ultimately clinched the opportunity for him.

“Karun excels exceptionally in the mental facets of athletics. He possessed an authentic determination and strong work ethic to reclaim his spot in the Test team. This is something every young player should take note of. Additionally, he maintained excellent physical conditioning. Therefore, the selectors honored him with recognition today,” notes Ghani.

“He shed 10 kilograms and then added around 5 kilograms of muscle mass. Once he began scoring during the initial matches of the season, we incorporated extensive strength training and heavier lifting into his routine. His aim was to undergo a complete transformation,” explains Prasanna.

However, the techniques and temperaments of ‘Nair from 1918 and 1925’ do not differ significantly from those of his mentor. Retaining the essence of his approach and attitude, Madyalkar hopes fervently that Karun will score India’s inaugural century during this tour.

When the Oval reunion calls with a decisive fifth game in August, Nair aims to have better solutions ready this time, both for himself and for India’s revamped Test middle-order.

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