Karun Nair's Century in Ranji Trophy Final Sparks Conversation About Indian Team Selection

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Karun Nair delivered a statement knock in the Ranji Trophy final, smashing a sublime century for Vidarbha against Kerala, and his celebration has sparked speculation over whether it was a pointed message to the Indian selectors. Facing his home state Kerala, Nair played with remarkable poise, reaching his hundred off 184 balls, featuring seven boundaries and two sixes, and was instrumental in pushing Vidarbha to 249/4 at Stumps, extending their lead to 286 runs after Kerala’s first-innings total of 342.

This century marked his ninth ton of the season, and after reaching the three-figure mark, he did the nine fingers-gesture towards the dressing room, leaving fans to wonder if it was a message to the selectors. Nair’s dominant run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy already turned heads last month, topping the tournament charts with 779 runs in just eight innings, boasting an astonishing average of 389.50 and a blistering strike rate of 124.04, with five centuries and a fifty, making his form undeniable.

Here are the match scores:

• Vidarbha: 379 (Danish Malewar 154, Karun Nair 86; MD Nidheesh 3/61) & 249/4 (Karun Nair 132*, Danish Malewar 73)
• Kerala: 342 all out (Sachin Baby 98, Aditya Sarwate 79; Darshan Nalkande 3-52)

The lead of 286 runs has put Vidarbha in a strong position to win their third Ranji Trophy title. With every passing season, Nair has continued to pile on runs, making an increasingly compelling case for a recall to the Indian team, and his latest century has only reignited conversations around his potential return.

Nair's international career began with a flourish in 2016 when he became only the second Indian, after Virender Sehwag, to register a triple century in Test cricket, but an inconsistent run in his next three Tests saw him fall out of favor. He has played just six Tests, amassing 374 runs at an impressive average of 62.33, alongside two ODI appearances where he managed 46 runs. India will return to the longest format in July when the side tours England for a five-match series, and the ongoing Ranji Trophy final is the last red-ball domestic match before the series, making Nair's performance even more significant.

With the selectors set to announce the team for the England series soon, Nair's century has put him in contention for a spot in the team, and fans will be eagerly waiting to see if he will be selected. Nair's consistent domestic performances have made a strong case for his recall, and it will be interesting to see how the selectors respond to his latest century. As the Ranji Trophy final comes to a close, all eyes will be on Nair and his team, Vidarbha, as they look to win their third title and make a statement in the Indian cricket scene.

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