"Can an average be like that?" - Aakash Chopra on Karun Nair's sensational performances in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25

Aakash Chopra has lauded Karun Nair for his outstanding performances in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. He pointed out that the Vidarbha batter's tournament average of 664 is virtually unimaginable.

Nair has amassed 664 runs at an average of 664.00 in six innings in the tournament. His unbeaten 122 off 82 deliveries helped Vidarbha beat Rajasthan by nine wickets in a quarterfinal clash in Vadodara on Sunday, January 12, and book a berth in the second semi-final against Maharashtra.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, the former India opener praised Nair for his unbelievable consistency. He said:

"Karun Nair had said - 'Cricket, just give me one more chance.' He is creating that chance as the captain of Vidarbha. He has an average of 664 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. 664 - can an average be like that?" (0:45)

Chopra noted that the former Karnataka player has been on a century-scoring spree.

"He left Karnataka and went to Vidarbha and look at his scores in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He scored 112* against Jammu & Kashmir, 44* against Chhattisgarh, 163* against Chandigarh, 111* against Tamil Nadu, 112 against Uttar Pradesh, didn't bat against Mizoram, and then scored 122* against Rajasthan," he observed.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Nair wasn't given a long run in India's Test side despite scoring a triple century.

"He has struck five centuries and has been dismissed just once. He has a strike rate of 120 and has scored 664 runs in six innings. Wow, take a bow, my friend. He is that player who scored a triple century for India against England in Chennai. After that, he didn't get proper opportunities. He was just junked very quickly," Chopra elaborated.

Karun Nair scored 374 runs at an average of 62.33 in six Tests. He played an unbeaten 303-run knock against England in Chennai in December 2016 but hasn't played for India since March 2017.

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"I don't know whether he will make a comeback but he is giving himself a chance" - Aakash Chopra on Karun Nair

Karun Nair also played county cricket last year. [P/C: Getty]

Aakash Chopra appreciated players like Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal and Jalaj Saxena for making domestic cricket stronger. In the aforementioned video, he said:

"He is 33 years old. I don't know whether he will make a comeback but he is giving himself a chance, and that's what we like. Players like Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal and Jalaj Saxena make Indian cricket strong. They play continuously for long and make Indian cricket what it is because if only kids play the Ranji Trophy, it will become very easy." (15:25)

Nair has amassed 7,637 runs at an average of 48.64 in 109 first-class games. Meanwhile, he has scored 3,013 runs at an average of 40.17 in 105 List A games.