Karun Nair Drops Out, Irfan Pathan Says 'No More Chances' As India Picks Padikkal

Karun Nair Drops Out, Irfan Pathan Says 'No More Chances' As India Picks Padikkal

September 25, 2025

Karun Nair’s snub from the India squad was no big surprise, but fans secretly hoped for one more chance. The truth came from chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who said the Indian team expected much more from Nair during the recent England Tests. The right-handed batter faced opportunities at No. 3 and No. 6 but often looked out of his depth. Former India star Irfan Pathan shared his thoughts about Nair’s exclusion. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan predicted the end of Karun Nair’s international career just as he tried to make a comeback after a long break. “Jurel played well against Australia A and now he has been rewarded with a berth in the squad. He was also in the team though. But Devdutt Padikkal, he got a huge knock vs Australia A and now he has got a chance. Karun Nair, who played only one series and was fine, he didn't play that good too. The team is looking beyond him,” Pathan said bluntly. “Now it feels like from here onwards, he won't get any more chances. But Padikkal is young and he will get more chances in the future. This is a clear indication,” he added. Karun Nair was last seen in action in the England Test series, where he had a golden chance to revive his career after his sensational triple century in 2016 against England. But in those four Tests, Nair managed just 205 runs in eight innings, averaging a modest 25.62. Ajit Agarkar, during a press conference, made it clear why Nair missed out again. “We expected more from Karun Nair in England. It cannot be about just one innings. Devdutt Padikkal offers more options to us. We want to give at least 15-20 chances to every player but it is not possible every time,” he explained. With Nair sidelined, Devdutt Padikkal seizes the opportunity after his sparkling form, including a 150-run innings against Australia A. The Indian selectors appear ready to back fresh talent, leaving Nair’s international days hanging by a thread. Stay tuned for more cricket updates, including India’s tour of the West Indies, Asia Cup 2025 schedule, and live scores from your favorite stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill.

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Tags: Karun nair, Irfan pathan, Devdutt padikkal, India cricket team, West indies tests, Ajit agarkar,

Stephania Menjivar

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