Karun Nair takes a sly dig at Ajit Agarkar after the latter clears India's selection criteria

India and Vidarbha cricketer Karun Nair has opened up on the statement of the chief selector Ajit Agarkar regarding the batter's great domestic form. Karun Nair seemed satisfied by Agarkar's acknowledgment and claimed it was clear.

During the announcement of India's Champions Trophy squad, Ajit Agarkar was asked about Nair's form and the possibilities of him being back into the national reckoning. Agarkar had acknowledged Nair's batting but mentioned the limited spots in India's team.

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Karun Nair replies to Ajit Agarkar's statement

Karun Nair recently spoke to RevSportz in an interview. The 33-year-old batter claimed that Ajit Agarkar's statement were clear and it was good to receive a clear message from a national selector.

"It was good to see that a clear statement was given and I think he made it very clear that you know, what their thinking was, which makes it easier for the player to understand where he needs to go and what he needs to do," Nair said.

However, Nair wants to focus on one match at a time and not think too far ahead. "For me at least, it is just about focusing on the next match and focusing on winning the Ranji Trophy at the moment," he added.

Nair has been in sublime form across formats in the current domestic season. The Vidarbha cricketer has played key roles in his team's victories this season, especially in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Ajit Agarkar's statement on Karun Nair

During a press conference in which India's squad was announced for the ODI series for England and the Champions Trophy, Ajit Agarkar was asked about Nair's form and his exclusion from both squads.

Agarkar hailed Nair's performances but claimed that it was too difficult to give him a place in the team due to the presence of proven performers in India's ODI team. However, he indicated that Nair is in selectors' radar.

"Karun Nair is playing well but it was difficult for him to get a place in this team," Agarkar told reporters.

Nair is a highly talented cricketer and was even seen as the future of Indian cricket at one time. He also scored a triple-hundred in Test cricket against England but was unfortunately dropped for the next game for India's vice-captain at that time, Ajinkya Rahane.

Karun Nair's recent form

Nair was in record-breaking form in this season's Vijay Hazare Trophy. He scored 779 runs in 9 matches at a staggering average of 389.50 and a strike rate of 124.04 with 5 hundreds and 1 fifty. He struck four consecutive hundreds in the tournament and became the third Indian to achieve this feat in List A cricket.

In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Nair scored 255 runs in 6 matches at an average of 42.50 and a strike rate of 177.08. The right-hander is also having a great Ranji Trophy season in which he has scored 591 runs in 7 matches so far with 3 hundreds and 1 fifty. He will play for Vidarbha in the tournament's semi-final against Mumbai.