Karun Nair leaves Karnataka to play for Vidarbha, shares heartfelt Instagram post

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Karun Nair on Sunday announced that he has left Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and will now play for Vidarbha in the domestic circuit. The 31-year-old has penned down a heartfelt message and shares a series of pictures ahead of the start of his "next exciting adventure".

This is the second high-profile transfer in the last one week. Earlier, Nitish Rana left Delhi to join Uttar Pradesh. Karun Nair, who is only the second Indian batter to score a triple century in Test cricket, was a key figure in the Karnataka lineup. However, he was dropped from the Karnataka side Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year before being snubbed for the Ranji Trophy. The batter hasn't played any form of cricket since June 2022.

“Dear cricket, give me one more chance,” Karun Nair had tweeted after the snub. After not being picked by any franchise, Nair was named as KL Rahul's replacement at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2023.

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible journey I've had with the Karnataka State Cricket Association over the last two decades. From the very start of my cricketing career, KSCA has been a guiding light, offering unwavering support that helped shape me into the player I am today," Karun Nair wrote in his Instagram post.

"A special thanks to my remarkable coaches, captains, and teammates who I've had the privilege of playing under and alongside. Your leadership, mentorship, support and belief in me have been instrumental in my growth as a cricketer.

"As I embark on a new chapter with the Vidarbha Cricket Association, I carry with me the cherished memories, friendships, and skills I've gained during my time with KSCA. Thank you for being an integral part of my cricketing journey. Now onto the next exciting adventure!" he added.

The right-hand batter played six Test matches and two ODIs for India between 2016 to 2017. He has played a total of 85 first-class matches and scored 5922 runs at an average of 48.94. The Jodhpur-born player has scored 2119 runs at an average of 30.71 in 90 List A matches.