IPL 2025: Karun Nair Makes Sensational IPL Return for Delhi Capitals
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
From Hero to Zero - Nair’s Dramatic Fall From Grace
Back in 2016, Karun Nair’s future in Indian cricket looked set to take flight after he scored an incredible triple hundred against England in Chennai, becoming only the second Indian batsman to achieve that remarkable feat after Virender Sehwag.
However, since then, the Jodhpur-born batter has faced major disappointment. Directly after his triple century against the Three Lions, he was left out for the next game by then-head coach Anil Kumble, and things began to spiral downward from then on.
In 2022, Nair stepped out in the IPL donning the colours of the Rajasthan Royals, but little did he know it would be his last match for the next 2+ years in the competition. He was struggling for form and was not only dropped by the Royals the following season, but also by his domestic team at the time, Karnataka.
“Dear cricket, give me one more chance.”
That was a post that Nair shared on X back in 2022 following his exclusion from RR and Karnataka, and with nowhere to ply his trade, the former India international was forced to relocate to Vidarbha ahead of the 2023-24 domestic season.
As it turned out, this marked the start of his comeback, as he impressed at the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Vidarbha, scoring 779 runs, before leading his new team to the title in the Ranji Trophy, with 893 runs the following season.
Check out our cricket predictions for every match at the ongoing 2025 IPL!
Additionally, Nair also turned out with a solid performance at the 2024-25 Syed Mustaq Trophy with 255 runs at a strike rate of 170.0, before being called up to feature in the County Championship with Northamptonshire, where he scored 736 runs across two campaigns.
Nair Posts Quick-Fire Half-Century in Dream IPL Return
After almost three years of grinding to return to prominence, Nair’s impressive form for Vidarbha and Northamptonshire was finally noticed ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction last year, and he was handed a lifeline by the Delhi Capitals, who purchased him for just ₹50 lakhs.
However, he was forced to bide his time once again, with the Capitals, who made a storming start to the competition, opting to keep him on the sidelines for the first four matches of the competition.
Nair finally got the nod in Delhi’s fifth match when they were set to play five-time champions, the Mumbai Indians, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands, smashing a sizzling 89 runs off just 40 deliveries, which included a 22-ball half century.
On top of taking India’s premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, to the cleaners in that knock, it was also his highest-ever score in the IPL and saw him become only the second player behind Jake Fraser-McGurk to score a half-century for the Capitals inside the powerplay overs.
The 33-year-old has since gone on to post 135 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 192.86, and he is also the sixth-highest run-scorer for the Capitals this season, despite having played four games fewer than most of his teammates.
Nair will resume duty for DC against RCB on Sunday, and our IPL predictions for that match will be available ahead of the toss.
