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Karun Nair has revealed that a ‘prominent Indian cricketer’ advised him to take early retirement and play in private white-ball leagues for financial security when he was out and struggling to make his international comeback. Nair said he didn’t take that ‘easy’ route because he knew he’d regret it later.

Nair played six Tests for India in 2016-2017 and hit a record triple century against England in Chennai. He was part of the 2018 tour of England but was dropped midway through without getting a chance to bat. His form plummeted over the next five years, and he couldn’t even get into the Karnataka state side.
“I still remember a prominent Indian cricketer calling me and saying you need to retire because the money in these leagues would make me secure," Nair told Mail Sport. ‘It would have been easy to do, but I knew that regardless of the money, I would be kicking myself for giving up that easily.’

A switch to Vidarbha brought back runs and sublime touch, allowing him to become the most in-form batter in the country. It led to his call-up for the upcoming Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England.

“I manifested playing for India," Nair said. “There was a domestic game last year where they played the national anthem, and we were standing in a line, and I got that feeling of ‘Oh, I need this to happen again’ and picturing myself in Indian whites."

Nair said his journey was less about changing things but more about self-belief.

“I can’t say one thing that I’ve fundamentally changed," he added. “It’s a combination of consistently working hard even if it feels like I’m going nowhere. In my body and mind over the last couple of years, I feel like I’ve always wanted to be in the India team, and now I’m back. More than anything, it’s that self-belief."

Having hit a double-century for India ‘A’ against England Lions, Nair is likely to get into the playing 11 in the first Test in Headingley, which begins on June 20. It remains to be seen where he would bat, with several positions expected to be shuffled in light of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirements.