Former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna did not hold back in his criticism of the selectors' decision to ignore Karun Nair for the next ICC Champions Trophy 2025, despite his exceptional form with the bat in the last Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.
Karun Nair scored 779 runs in just seven matches with the help of five hundreds at an incredible average of 389.5, remaining unbeaten in six straight innings in the recent 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy. His amazing batting performance created a sensation among cricket experts.
Surender Khanna slams Indian selectors for ignoring Karun Nair despite his impressive performance in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy
Many former cricketers said this was Nair's moment to make his long-awaited return to the international stage after nearly a decade, but the Indian selectors once again left him heartbroken, excluding captain of Vidarbha for both the England ODIs and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Expressing his frustration over Karun Nair's snub, Surender Khanna has questioned the decision to overlook the 33-year-old batsman for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He stressed that Nair deserves to be selected in the CT 2025 squad.
The former Indian cricketer also pointed out that the Indian cricket team needs younger and more flexible players to meet the fast-paced demands of the ODI format, which is aimed at Rohit SharmaVirat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.
I think Karun Nair is a bit unlucky: Surinder Khanna
Surinder Khanna was quoted as saying, “I think Karun Nair is a bit unlucky. I wish I could be the chief selector. He hit 300 in the Test match and then he disappeared. Now suddenly the moon has appeared again, so that the moon must shine for 2-3 years.” How many 35-36 year olds can you have in the team? It's a one-day format. You need quick movements on the field.
Meanwhile, Surender Khanna did not hold back in his harsh criticism of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He criticized Rohit Sharma's approach, saying that if the Indian skipper is positioned on the boundary, the opponent can easily steal the ball.
Khanna also pointed out that Virat Kohli's play in the slips and inside the circle is not effective anymore, which is affecting the overall performance of the Indian team. However, Kohli is one of the best players in the world.
The captain is also weak: Surinder Khanna over Rohit Sharma
Khanna also noted, “The captain is also weak. I mean, if you field Rohit Sharma on the boundary, two runs will be done easily. Virat Kohli also fields in the slips and only fields inside the circle. Kohli doesn't run down the field. It puts a lot of effort into the circuit. “I hope they regain their mental fitness and focus and get back to their level.”
However, the former cricketer praised the national selectors' decision to appoint Shubman Gill as India's vice-captain for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, saying it is a very good and positive development. He signed off by saying that Gill has shown promise but stressed that the youngster has to find his form with the bat, which is the main thing for him and the team.
