The tale of Karun Nair is an exemplary tale of the spirited world of Indian cricket filled with passion, determination and hurdles. Karun Nair, who has a gigantic triple-century to his name, also has a life history which is truly remarkable. After achieving historic milestones, he was forced to the sidelines. Nair’s story showcases unwavering love for cricket and resilience.
Karun Nair: Family Background and Past
Karun Kaladharan Nair was born to a Malayali family hailing from Kerala on December 6 1991, in Jodhpur Rajasthan. He was the first born to kalladharan Nair, an Indian air force engineer. His father later switched to the defense industry which led to fickle relocations until they moved to Bangalore. Being a premature baby, Karun was pushed to participate in sports to recover his strength, which ultimately lead him to develop a keen interest in cricket.
His early education was at Koramangala Cricket Academy in Bangalore, where he was instructed by Shivanand. Supported strongly my his family, Karun’s primary education was a mix of sports and academics. His chinmaya vidyalaya and frank anthony public school years culminated in his earning a B. Com degree from jan university. His progress in the cricketing world was gradual, but he was already known in the Karnataka domestic circuit.
Achievements in the Domestic Circuit and the Record Setting Triple Century
Karun represented Karnataka in the first-class 2013-14 season and was a key player and even led his team to win the Ranji Trophy that same year. He had proven to be of great worth for the team during the high-stake matches where he scored three centuries in a row during the knockout stage and a final.
In the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy final, he set a world record of 328 runs total making him the first and only person after the year 1946 to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy final, thus putting himself in history books. He became the front of major conversations throughout the state due to his astonishing prowess and effortless strokes, superb decision making and calmness while being among some of the best in India domestic crickets.
In January 2025, Nair rekindled the memories of his class by shattering a record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy while representing Vidarbha. He amassed an astonishing 542 runs and remained not out across several matches, which included three consecutive hundreds. This achievement showcased his appetite for big scores and the fact that he still had plenty to offer.
The Triple Century That Shook the Cricketing World
Nair debuted for India in Tests in November 2016 against England. It took him just three matches to make history. In the last Test of the series, Chennai witnessed one of the most stunning innings in Indian cricket when Nair scored 303 not out. He became only the second Indian, after Virender Sehwag, to score a Test cricket triple century and is the fastest in history to turn a debut Test century into a triple ton.
What came next was, however, surprising. Nair’s historic innings was followed by him being dropped from the side not long after and opportunities to represent the national team became limited. His exclusion triggered discussions about selection policy consistency and was labeled one of the most puzzling moves in Indian cricket.
IPL Career and Karun Nair’s Resurgence in 2025
Karun began his IPL career with the Royal Challengers Bangladore in 2012. Over the years, he played with Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils, what is now known as the Capitals, Kings XI Punjab, who have rebranded to Punjab Kings, and lastly, Kolkata Knight Riders. His best IPL season was in 2014, where he accumulated 330 runs at a sizzling strike rate of over 140.
After underwhelming several seasons, Nair returned to form in IPL 2025 playing with Delhi Capitals. In a contest versus Mumbai, he outscored everyone with a scorching 89 off 40, fighting off a mega challenge from Jasprit Bumrah. That innings sent out crystal clear and powerful message: Karun Nair is far from done.
Outside the stadium and Away from the cricket field, Karun is described as possessing calm self assurance. In January 2020, he married media professional Sanaya Tankariwala, with whom he had a son, Kayaan, in 2022. Regardless of his professional rollercoaster, Karun remains unchanged attributing him grounded owing to his family and mentors.
Upcoming Challenges
The career of Karun Nair is a unique example of persistence in the face of adversity. Nair’s journey to reclaiming the fame he garnered as Indian cricket’s next big prodigy has been anything but a straight path. Even so, with each match he plays, there comes the hope of new possibilities and goals yet to be achieved.
As supporters and the selection panel shift focus towards a new horizon, a single aspect is clear: Nair’s narrative has not reached its conclusion yet. Whether it is through the IPL, domestic cricket, or perhaps another chapter representing India, Nair still has much to offer.
Read more about Karun Nair here.
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