Star India player’s ‘give me one more chance’ tweet goes viral after Jaydev Unadkat’s recall

In late 2016, Karun Nair hit a triple century in the fifth Test against England in Chennai. He played in place of the then vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane who got injured. However, a few months after this, the latter returned from the injury and was inducted into the playing XI against Bangladesh. On the other hand, Nair did play in the four-match Test that followed in February-March 2017.

Since then, the right-hander hasn’t gotten any chances to play for India across formats. Over the years, he has been doing well in red-ball cricket in the Indian domestic setup. In the 85 First Class games he played in his career, he amassed 5922 runs averaging 48.94 including 15 centuries. However, he still gets ignored and continues to suffer this.

Meanwhile, another domestic performer, Jaydev Unadkat made his comeback. The left-arm medium pacer has replaced Mohammed Shami ahead of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh. After Unadkat’s recall, Nair took to Twitter and posted “Dear cricket, give me one more chance”, he said. Not to forget, a while back, Unadkat posted ‘Dear Red Ball, please give me another chance’.

https://twitter.com/karun126/status/1601578615619350531?s=20&t=7MYWD2EzCaKwzyOPMsYJEw

The hunger to play for India still burns bright: Jaydev Unadkat

Recently, the Saurashtra player spoke to ESPNcricinfo during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He said that “the hunger and fire to play and perform for the country is still burning bright”.

“I do look at my individual performances, but from a way that it takes the team through, not in a way where I think if it will help me get selected for India or India A,” he had said. “At the end of the day, that’s the space you want to be in and I’m happily trying to help the team win as many games as possible. If you love the way you play the game, all other things will fall in place. I love this space and the mindset I’m currently in and don’t want to change that for anything. But the hunger and fire to play and perform for the country is still burning bright.”