Will Karun Nair’s Return Boost Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy Chances?

Indian batter Karun Nair is set to don Karnataka colours again after a two-season stint with Vidarbha, where he played a pivotal role in their Ranji Trophy triumph last year. Named in Karnataka’s squad for their season opener against Saurashtra in Rajkot from October 15, Nair bolsters a formidable batting line-up led by captain Mayank Agarwal. The 33-year-old, who scored a historic triple century against England in 2016, aims to revive his domestic dominance in the premier first-class tournament.

Karnataka, runners-up in 2019-20, have also included fresh talent like Kruthika Krishna, Shikhar Shetty, and Mohsin Khan alongside stalwarts Shreyas Gopal and Vidwath Kaverappa, signalling a blend of youth and experience as they chase an elusive title.

In a parallel development, Anvay Dravid, son of cricketing icon Rahul Dravid, will lead Karnataka in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, an under-19 one-day competition, in Dehradun from October 9 to 17. The wicketkeeper-batter, who topped the state’s run charts in last year’s edition, takes the helm of a 15-member squad featuring vice-captain S. Manikanth and promising all-rounders like Nitish Arya and Adarsh D. Urs. Anvay’s leadership follows a breakout 2024-25 season, where his technical finesse and composure at the crease drew praise, echoing his father’s legacy as India’s former head coach and batting maestro.

Karnataka’s Ranji squad, announced on Monday, reflects strategic depth with Agarwal, Nair, and Nikin Jose forming a robust top order, backed by pace spearheads Vyshak Vijayakumar and Kaverappa, who claimed 37 wickets last season. Newcomers Krishna (wicketkeeper) and Shetty add versatility, while R. Smaran and Abhinav Manohar provide middle-order firepower. The team’s pre-season camp in Mysuru fine-tuned their red-ball skills, with Agarwal emphasising fitness and adaptability to counter Saurashtra’s spin-heavy attack on a likely turning Rajkot track. Karnataka’s last Ranji title came in 2014-15, and this squad aims to end a decade-long drought.

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For the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Anvay’s team is poised to improve on last year’s quarter-final finish. With a balanced attack featuring seamers like Kuldeep Singh Purohit and spinners like Atharv Malviya, Karnataka target a trophy they last won in 2019. The tournament, a key platform for India’s U-19 World Cup selections, puts Anvay under scrutiny as a potential national prospect. As Karnataka juggles both senior and junior campaigns, Nair’s return and Anvay’s captaincy signal a bright season ahead, with fans eager for silverware in domestic cricket’s marquee events.

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