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Karun Nair will play for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 after being signed for Rs 50 lakh in the mega auction last year.
Karun Nair will play for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. (Picture Credit: PTI)
“Dear cricket, give me one more chance.”
This was Karun Nair’s social media post, back in 2022, that went viral like a wildfire. Only the second Indian batter, after Virender Sehwag, to score a triple-ton in Tests, Nair has been far away from Team India’s scheme of things. However, the recently-concluded domestic season saw him roaring. Close to 2000 runs across formats and 9 hundreds, Nair stood out with the extraordinary knocks for his team, Vidarbha. After a dream season, he gears up to represent Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, which begins March 22.
Dear cricket, give me one more chance.🤞🏽— Karun Nair (@karun126) December 10, 2022
“Obviously exciting times getting back to Delhi Capitals, feels good. Grateful for the opportunity. But again, it’s a new tournament, so trying to just prepare well as well as I can For me personally and as a team, we’re trying. We’ve had a couple of good practice sessions and again, just trying to follow the processes that have worked for me this season and whenever I get the opportunity in whatever situation or position, try and give my 100% and do well for the team and win games for the team,” Nair said in a select media interaction on Sunday.
The last time he wore the Delhi jersey, the franchise was still called Delhi Daredevils. It’s been eight years, but the fire continues to burn bright. With 638 runs and four fifties in his previous stint, Nair has unfinished business in the capital.
“Just being a little old, I would say, [on what has changed since playing for Delhi in 2017] and knowing my game a little more. Other than that, I don’t think anything has changed much. But yeah, my focus and my intention to win games for the team is the same,” Nair said.
A magnificent domestic season has not only made Nair everyone’s favourite, he finds himself closer to that ‘another chance’ he mentioned in his viral tweet from 2022. Playing for the country again is something that lingers in the back of his mind but for now, the prime focus is to bring laurels to Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025.
“Well at least I think I’m closer rather than further, but I don’t know how close I am. But again, it’s not something that’s my only focus. Obviously, it’s at the back of the mind but the only focus at the moment right now is to prepare well and understand what I need to be doing in the IPL and contribute in every game that I play,” Nair said.
This time, Nair is not burdened by expectations. No pressure, no baggage—just play freely and enjoy his game.
“My focus only is about understanding my game a little more, what I should be doing in my own way, not trying to be someone else, trying to play the way that I know to play and prepare in the same way. You have to keep the strike rates up and play according to the situation, which is really important. So quite simple actually,” he said.
Nair’s cricketing journey has been full of ups and downs. They have shaped him, teaching him resilience, patience, and the hunger to succeed. He has felt the weight of being at the top and the pain of being forgotten, but through it all, one motivation has remained constant: wearing the Indian jersey again.
The road back to Team India is tough, but Nair has never been one to back down. He knows what he must do—score, and score big. IPL 2025 is more than just a tournament for him; it’s a statement, a second coming, a shot at redemption.
“It’s always about ups and downs and how you come back and get up from those downs and how you treat the ups. So, I’ve learned quite a bit of myself and how to react to those situations. So yes, obviously it’s been a tough time, something that has helped me to bring myself to the stage and which will always be with me to help me in whatever stage that I reach and to push me to have more motivation and more hunger all the time,” he said.
“There’s only one motivation that is to play for India. For that, I need to score consistently and utilise whatever opportunity I’m getting,” he added.
Nair knows the road back won’t be easy. He knows the competition is fierce. But if cricket has taught him one thing, it’s that every comeback begins with a moment—a single innings, a single match, a single spark.
IPL 2025 could be that moment.