Kohli and Gambhir's criticism of Agarkar's decision on Karun Nair: 'Going against his own rule', torn to shreds in brutal rant

The seasoned batsman has taken everyone by surprise with his remarkable resurgence in the domestic arena. With an incredible streak of four consecutive centuries under his belt at the ongoing Vijay Hazare trophy, he has undoubtedly been the standout performer of the tournament. His stunning form has propelled him to the top of the tournament's run-scoring chart, having amassed an impressive tally of 752 runs in just eight games at an average of 752. Such a magnificent display of batting prowess has left fans and experts alike in awe of his skill and determination.

Also Read: Virat Kohli tells BCCI he can't play Delhi's Ranji Trophy game because of neck stiffness, KL Rahul carrying elbow niggle

Explaining his decision to not pick Nair in the squad, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said, “Averaging 750-plus is simply insane, but it’s a squad of 15, so we can’t fit everyone.”

Ajit Agarkar torn to shreds

Reacting to Nair’s bizarre exclusion, former RCB and KKR player Shreevats Goswami mocked Agarkar and BCCI for the decision. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, he wrote, “Karun nair not getting picked is like going against your own rule of making domestic cricket mandatory. Gutted for him! #ChampionsTrophy2025”

Goswami's statement also comes after BCCI have reportedly begun to pressurise established Team India players to play in domestic cricket too. Agarkar's decision came as a shock for fans and former players, as many had backed Nair to make it into the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy. The call for Nair’s selection had increased, especially due to the poor form of India’s senior stars at the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Nair was exiled from the Indian team after only six Tests. He made his international debut in 2016, and also got a triple ton in his third Test, which was also his maiden century. Nair also showcased his shot-making abilities in the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, slamming an unbeaten 44-ball 88 vs Maharashtra. With two overs left and on 51 off 35 balls, he hammered four sixes and three fours. It saw a sequence of 4, 0, 6, 4, 4, 6 in the final over.

He has also registered the feat of getting the most runs in List A cricket without being dismissed. During the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy season, he has registered 112*, 44*, 163*, 111*, 112, 122*, 88*.

Stay informed with the latest updates on live cricket score, cricket players, match schedules and ICC rankings. Keep an eye on your favourite cricket team, including the stellar performances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Check out the cricket schedule, WTC 2025 Points Table track team standings and dive into player stats and rankings on Crickit powered by Hindustan Times website and app. .freemium-card h4{color:#fff; padding-bottom:20px;} .freemium-card .freemium-content .subcTxt{padding-bottom:16px; color:#fff;} .freemium-card .freemium-content{width: auto; max-width: inherit;} .freemium-card .freemium-content .subcTxt{max-width:inherit; font-size:18px; padding-top:0; line-height:24px} .freemium-card .btnSubc{margin} .freemium-card .btnSubc a{background:#000; color:#fff; min-width:auto; padding:5px 15px; border-radius:6px; font-size:16px; line-height:22px; font-weight:700;} .freemium-card{height:285px} @media (max-width: 767px) { .freemium-card h4{font-size:28px} .freemium-card .freemium-content{max-width:360px; padding: 20px;} .freemium-card{height:303px; background-position: 100% 0; } }