Right through this tournament, it hasn’t been just about runs for Nair. In eight matches, he has been dismissed only once and out of the seven innings he has batted, he has crossed 50 six times with an unbeaten 44 against Chhattisgarh in the opening game being his lowest score so far.

Relive 🎥

Vidarbha captain Karun Nair’s blistering finishing knock of 88* off 44 against Maharashtra 🔥#VijayHazareTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/AW5jmfoiE1 pic.twitter.com/jQNnxssJVb

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 16, 2025

In the last few seasons of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the likes of N Jagadeesan (830) and Prithvi Shaw (827) have churned out big scores. Devdutt Padikkal and Mayank Agarwal have done so too, tallying over 700 runs. Even Ruturaj Gaikwad, who watched helplessly as his Maharashtra attack struggled to control the run flow, has scored 660 in 5 matches.

But despite his rich vein of form, Nair may still struggle to make the squad for the ODIs against England and the Champions Trophy. In the 50-over format, India’s batting line-up is so packed that even their T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has been struggling to get in. With Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul being automatic picks, until selectors manufacture space in one of the other spots – a third opener or a spinner – having another middle-order batsman is a luxury.

But without doubt, Nair has given selectors a name to ponder over, as an unreal average of 752 can’t be brushed aside by merely citing a packed batting line-up. How he fits into the XI is a headache for the team management but not finding a spot in the 15 would definitely raise questions on whether domestic performances are rewarded.

Making it look easy

When Rathod and Shorey stitched a massive 224-run stand for the opening wicket, the selectors may have breathed easy. When Nair walked out in the 35th over, getting to a century seemed far-fetched. That he made 88 is a testament to the form he is in and how he wanted to make full use of it. When batsmen are in such zones, it all feels surreal and organic.

On Thursday, it was another such occasion for Nair. Coming in at a stage when Vidarbha had to shift gears, he didn’t force the situation upon himself. The busy player that he is, Nair started briskly and with Jitesh Sharma around to get the big hits, he played himself in before freeing himself.

Unlike previous outings, there was no scoreboard pressure which allowed him to showcase his range with 9 boundaries and 5 sixes.

The dominant knock overshadowed two well-compiled centuries by Rathod and Shorey. There are traces of Shikhar Dhawan’s bat flow in the left-handed Rathod’s batting and it was him who started on a quick note. Never in their huge partnership did they bat in top gear, yet runs flowed off their bats as Shorey steadily caught up with his opening partner. That Maharashtra’s fielding was also below par helped them, but it was nevertheless a clinical show from Vidarbha.

With 381 to chase, for Maharashtra to make a match of this, they needed Gaikwad to come good with the bat. But the opener’s woeful run of form continued – he was out for 7 with Jitesh taking a diving catch – and Maharashtra’s chase never really bothered Vidarbha. Opener Arshin Kulkarni started slowly to end up with 90 off 101 deliveries before 50 from Ankit Bawne and 49 from Nikhil Naik reduced Maharashtra’s margin of defeat.

Brief scores: Vidarbha 380 in 50 overs (Yash Rathod 116, Dhruv Shorey 114, Karun Nair 88 n.o, Jitesh Sharma 51) bt Maharashtra 311/7 in 50 overs (Arshin Kulkarni 90, Ankit Bawne 50, Nikhil Naik 49; Darshan Nalkande 3/64, Nachiket Bhute 3/68) by 69 runs