Star India batter Karun Nair, who is all set to make a return to the Test fold after eight years, is on the verge of leaving Vidarbha to move back to Karnataka, as the domestic transfer season begins with just over two months to go for the 2025-26 season to start, according to a report in Cricbuzz. Not just Nair, but Vidarbha is also set to lose the services of IPL 2025 winner Jitesh Sharma, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s star wicketkeeper-batter, as he too is contemplating a move to Baroda. Vidarbha were the champions in the Ranji Trophy, runners-up in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and quarterfinalists in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the 2024-25 season. Vidarbha’s domestic success last year was built on strong batting contributions from Nair and Jitesh, with the former playing a crucial role. Nair scored 863 runs in the Ranji Trophy, the fourth-highest in the event and topped the charts in the Vijay Hazare one-day tournament with 779 runs. Nair had left Karnataka ahead of the 2023-24 season, but according to the report, he will return to the state for personal and family reasons. KSCA sources confirmed to Cricbuzz that Nair’s return is a strong possibility. The star Indian batter led Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare last year. Sources within BCA have confirmed to Cricbuzz that the transfer of Jitesh from Vidarbha to Baroda should be completed within a day or two. Jitesh led Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and played under Nair in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but couldn’t make much of an impact. Jitesh enjoyed a successful Indian Premier League season with RCB and delivered some match-winning innings, including a 10-ball 24 in the final. Baroda Cricket Association officials have said that Jitesh will play in both red-ball and white-ball formats for the state side. Last year, Karnataka won the Vijay Hazare defeating Nair’s Vidarbha, but couldn’t make the knockouts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali. In the Ranji Trophy, Karnataka couldn’t reach the knockouts. Nair’s inclusion in the red-ball team might just provide Karnataka with the much-needed push in the Ranji Trophy.