Returning to Test cricket after a gap of eight years, top-order batsman Karun Nair is nostalgic about making a comeback with childhood companions KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna for company in the Indian dressing room. It is this comfort level that he wants to make the most of to leave an impact as he joins the Playing XI in the first Test match of the series against England at Headingley.

Sensing this as an opportunity to fortify his place in the team, Karun, who is only one of the two Indian Test batsmen to have scored a triple century, said in a video posted on the BCCI website, “I try to keep it very simple — always think about the positives, have certain goals in mind, visualise things and have real belief in what you visualise. Playing alongside Rahul and Prasidh is also very comforting. We’ve played cricket for so many years since we were young kids and grew up together.”

Dropped from the team in 2017, Karun views his return as “life coming full circle”. “I went out of the team in England and now I am coming back into the team in England. It has been a while and I embrace that,” he said.

Karun said the first thought that occurred to him when he woke up after being dropped was to play for India again. “That’s probably what kept me going. It was the driving force to train and practice every day. Every morning, I used to wake up thinking what should I do to reach that goal. Never losing that belief helped me.”

Karun earned his place in the side as a result of his performance in the 2024–25 domestic season as he amassed 863 runs in nine matches at an average of 54 to help Vidarbha lift their third Ranji Trophy. “Mentally I am more patient and I am more forgiving of myself. I have learnt to enjoy small things a little, not trying to be someone that I am not. I have tried to keep it very simple. Feeling honoured to wear this jersey,” he said.