It’s often said that comebacks are tougher than debuts — and Karun Nair just showed why patience, perseverance, and passion always find their moment.
On Sunday, after 2520 days, Karun Nair brought up an IPL half-century — a feat he last achieved way back in 2018. It took him 1077 days just to return to the Indian Premier League stage, and when he did, as an Impact Player for Delhi Capitals against Mumbai Indians, he made it count.
Walking into a high-pressure situation, the 33-year-old seized the moment with an explosive 50 off just 22 balls, raising his bat on the last ball of the powerplay, having just flicked a full toss from Bumrah to deep square leg for a couple of runs. As he raised his bat, the DC dugout stood in ovation, applauding a man who had waited over 6 years for this very moment.
His counter-attack against Jasprit Bumrah, one of the best in the business, was especially remarkable — smashing 16 runs in a single over against the ace pacer.
Karun Nair’s comeback wasn’t just built overnight. After being released from the limelight, he toiled hard in domestic cricket. He scored 255 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike rate of 177, 542 runs in five innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (without being dismissed once), and 863 runs in the Ranji Trophy, playing a pivotal role in Vidarbha’s title-winning campaign.
Picked for Rs 50 lakh in the 2025 mega auction by Delhi Capitals, Nair’s story is a reminder to every sidelined cricketer — your time will come again, and when it does, make it unforgettable.
Today, Karun Nair didn’t just score a half-century. He reminded the world why he was never truly gone.
