In career-best season, Karun Nair hits 2nd Ranji Trophy Final century against Kerala

Karun Nair, a batsman for Vidarbha, continued his purple patch in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final on Saturday at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, by backing up his first-innings 86 with his 23rd First-Class century against Kerala.

Batting in the second innings on day four of the match, after Vidarbha had taken a 37-run lead in the first innings the night before, Nair entered at number four after Kerala had removed the openers in the first 14 deliveries.

Nair formed another solid partnership with Danish Malewar, with whom he shared a game-defining 215-run stand in the previous innings, and with his stroke-filled hundred off 184 balls, he denied Kerala the opportunity to rally, Indian Express reported.

In four appearances since his Karnataka tournament debut in 2013–14, the century was Nair’s second century in a Ranji Trophy final. In his 152nd appearance, Nair also scored more than 8,000 FC runs in the previous innings.

Additionally, for the first time in a Ranji Trophy season, the right-handed batter has scored 800 or more runs. The Ranji Trophy's second phase featured scores from 33-year-old Nair, who made a comeback to the limelight following a hectic Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign last month, scoring 752 runs and five hundred in seven innings.

In Vidarbha's most recent league match against Hyderabad, Nair hit a century, and he backed it with his 22nd First Class century in the team's quarterfinal victory over Tamil Nadu.

Nair participated in the final of his first First-Class season in 2013-14 when Karnataka defeated Maharashtra to win the title. The next season, Nair was named Player of the Match in the summit clash after scoring 328 runs - the greatest individual score ever in a Ranji Trophy final - against Tamil Nadu as Karnataka defended their crown.

While Nair has scored over 3700 runs for Karnataka, his brief India Test career from 2016-17 saw him become the country's second Test triple-centurion, after only Virender Sehwag, with an unbeaten 303 against England in Chennai.

Karun Nair in Ranji Trophy finals:

2013/14: 44, 20*

2014/15: 328 (best by any batter)

2023/24: 0, 74

2024/25: 86, 100* (batting)