ICC Champions Trophy 2025: KL Rahul like Akash Chopra mentions happy with Karun Nair snub: “It’s a joke…”
Indian cricketer Akash Chopra has shared his opinion on Karun Nair’s omission from India’s ODI squad for the upcoming home series between England and ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which may not go down well with many.
Karun Nair impressed one and all with his impressive performance in the recently held Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. Strike 124.
Following his record-breaking performance in the 50-over tournament, many are calling for a return to India for the upcoming three-match ODI series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Unfortunately, the Indian selectors ignored the Vidarbha captain India regulars.
Aakash Chopra defends Indian selectors ignoring Karun Nair in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 decision
The BCCI and Indian selectors’ decision to ignore Karun Nair for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been criticized by many former cricketers and fans, but Aakash Chopra feels it is a fair call to invite more criticism. The commentator believes that the voters did not make any wrong decisions.
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Akash Chopra Karun Nair’s Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 campaign was outstanding but it would not be fair for the player to be overlooked for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 based on a strong showing in one tournament.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel by Cricket Pandit, Nair explained why he could not replace established players like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill in the 15-member squad for the next assignments. Defending the decision of the national selectors, Chopra stressed that a series of performances, not just one contest, is crucial for Indian elections.
How can someone be elected based on one Vijay Hazare performance? – Akash Chopra
Akash Chopra said in the YouTube video, “There is an ongoing crusade that Karun Nair should be in the team. He said he is not knocking on the door but breaking it because he has scored so many runs. I saw somewhere that KL Rahul should go down. He averaged 58 in numbers 4 and 5. He played well in the World Cup.”
The former Indian batsman further explained, “Someone said Shubman Gill should be dropped. It’s a joke that someone who has been performing continuously is fired and someone else has to be brought in. Karun Nair’s one year Vijay Hazare show was fantastic. Performances like these are definitely worth noting, but are you going to vote for someone based on one Vijay Hazare performance? Will it be right because there is only one race? “
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Akash Chopra highlighted Karun Nair’s numbers in the last two Vijay Hazare Trophy seasons to prove his point.
Justifying the selectors’ call, Chopra highlighted Nair’s numbers in the last two seasons of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he could manage 230 runs at an average of just 46 in the last season and failed in Karnataka last season.
“He almost quit cricket, but his family asked him to play elsewhere and find pastures new,” he signed. Notably, Nair last played for India in 2017 and has played only two ODIs so far, scoring 46 runs at an average of 23.00.