ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Harbhajan Singh, ex-RCB star expose BCCI's hypocrisy over Karun Nair's snub
Published - 19 Jan 2025, 02:15 PM | Updated - 19 Jan 2025, 02:16 PM
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Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and wicketkeeper-batter Shreevats Goswami have strongly condemned the Indian selectors’ decision to overlook the in-form batter Karun Nair for the upcoming ODI series against England and ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Both Harbhajan Singh and Shreevats Goswami have questioned the importance of domestic cricket when the performance isn’t taken into consideration for India selection after Karun Nair was overlooked for some of the out-of-form Indian stars for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Harbhajan Singh and Shreevats Goswami slam Indian selectors for overlooking Karun Nair for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Karun Nair was in incredible form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 and finished as the top run-scorer in the tournament. The Vidarbha captain amassed 779 runs in just eight innings at an impressive average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.
The right-handed batter smashed five centuries and one fifty, earning widespread praise and sparking calls for his inclusion in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad. Despite his outstanding performance, Nair was not selected in the 15-member squad, leaving fans and experts baffled.
Following the 33-year-old’s snub for both the England series and the multi-nation tournament, Harbhajan Singh has questioned the value of domestic cricket when performances and form don’t earn a place in the India squad with a fiery post on X on January 18.
Harbhajan Singh questions the importance of Domestic Cricket after Nair's snub
Citing Karun Nair’s extraordinary run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, the legendary Indian spinner has expressed his frustration at the deserving player being overlooked for the national selector amidst the noise over BCCI’s strict policy for domestic cricket.
Harbhajan Singh posted on X: “Is there a point in playing domestic cricket when you don’t pick players based on form & performance? #KarunNair”
Is there a point playing Domestic cricket when you don’t pick players based on form & performance ? #KarunNair
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 18, 2025
Meanwhile, the former Indian cricketer Shreevats Goswami also slammed the national selectors for ignoring the in-form batter Karun Nair for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Goswami said that the BCCI has broken its own rules by overlooking Nair despite his stellar VHT campaign.
You went against your own rule: Shreevats Goswami slams BCCI selectors after Karun Nair ignored for CT 2025
Shreevats Goswami posted on X: “Karun Nair not getting picked is like going against your own rule of making domestic cricket mandatory. Gutted for him! #ChampionsTrophy2025”
Karun nair not getting picked is like going against your own rule of making domestic cricket mandatory. Gutted for him! #ChampionsTrophy2025
— Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) January 18, 2025
In another post, the former Indian cricketer questioned why India couldn’t include Nair as a 16th player, especially considering past instances of reserves being taken for the ICC tournaments. Goswami emphasized the value of having a middle-order anchor in challenging conditions like Dubai, calling for Nair's late inclusion in the squad.
Goswami said in another X post: “Why not make an exception for someone who has scored 752 runs in 7 games? I mean, use his form! Take an extra player and go. India did take 4 reserves, including Gill, for the recent T20 WC in the Caribbean. 2015 WC: Dhawal Kulkarni was a part of the WC as a travelling reserve. Jaiswal as an extra opener? need be KL can open if either Gill or Rohit gets injured; in conditions like Dubai, you need someone to build innings in the middle. Just add him as the 16th! #ChampionsTrophy2025”
Why not make exception for someone who has scored 752 runs in 7 games , I mean use his form! Take a extra player and go. India did take 4 reserve including gill for recent t20 wc in the Caribbean .2015 wc too Dhawal kulkarni was a part of WC as travelling reserve. Jaiswal as…
— Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) January 18, 2025
Notably, Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar has assured that Nair will be kept as a backup if someone struggles for form or gets injured during the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
