Karun Nair detailed the hard work he put in to earn a spot during India’s recent tour of England and revive his dream of representing the nation in Test cricket. After scoring a record-breaking 303* and spending eight years on the sidelines, Nair’s journey exemplifies patience, grit, and resilience. Almost a decade later, he re-entered the Indian Test side following his impressive form. From India’s domestic circuit to England’s County Championship, Nair worked tirelessly to catch the selectors’ attention. During his time away from the national team, he played for Northamptonshire, featuring in 10 matches and 14 innings, and scoring 736 runs at an impressive average of 56.61. His notable performances included two centuries and four fifties, with an unbeaten 202. Nair’s remarkable form was evident in the last season of India’s domestic circuit. Representing Vidarbha, he amassed runs consistently across formats, contributing significantly to his team’s Ranji Trophy title victory. However, his return to the Indian Test squad was not the result of just a year or two of effort but rather four to five years of relentless hard work. Nair spoke about his journey in an interview with Revsportz, emphasising the sustained effort he put into honing his skills and fitness. “I wouldn’t say just two years, it’s more like four to five years of hard work, and the last two years have just been the result of that hard work. Working on my skills and fitness every single day, patiently, was something I have practised,” Nair was quoted as saying. “Kept my dream alive of playing for India once again, without giving up. Only focus was on how I am going to make it and what should I be doing for that. I just took one day at a time, and all I could see was the target of getting back there,” he continued. For Nair, there was no designated path or clear direction to reach his goal. His mindset was solely focused on giving his all and ensuring consistent performances, regardless of the fixture. “Kept telling myself that I should be giving everything that I can, and hopefully I’ll reach my goal. There was no set path that I had in mind, or a clear direction to reach the target point, but it was just about putting in all the effort while making sure I performed in every game, irrespective of what game it is. I guess taking one day at a time and not looking too far ahead helped me,” he said. How Karun Nair Made India Comeback? Nair’s dream became reality when his name appeared on India’s playing XI for the series opener against England at Headingley. The 33-year-old felt the adrenaline rush as the moment he had always dreamt of was now his reality. “Yeah, it was a moment of goosebumps, and I can still feel that when I’m talking about it. A year back, I used to dream about being in the whites and standing there with the team. And then, there I was living my dream that I have once lived inside my head,” he said. “It is an amazingly grateful feeling and something that you cannot explain. It took me a while to get used to the fact that now I have the stage and that I have made it back to the team. Now is the time to go and grab the opportunity,” he added. Nair returned from England after scoring 205 runs at an average of 25.62, including a valuable 57 in the first innings at The Oval. (With inputs from ANI)