Karnataka batter
The controversy surrounding his selection intensified after a social media post labelled his exclusion as "inexplicable." Nair responded to the sentiment on X, formerly Twitter, by stating that the term was an understatement, punctuating his comment with a laughing emoji. Following the decision, Nair opted to depart the South Zone camp to join the Karnataka State Cricket Association's pre-season red-ball training, where he promptly scored a century for the KSCA Secretary XI against Chhattisgarh.
Selection controversy and East Zone dominance
South Zone’s decision to leave out the seasoned batter has drawn significant scrutiny, particularly as the team struggled to contain a rampant East Zone lineup. Earlier in the tournament, captain Tilak Varma had defended the decision to select Hyderabad’s Kodimela Himateja over Nair, citing a tactical preference for a left-handed batter in the middle order to counter left-arm spin. However, Himateja was dismissed for a two-ball duck and subsequently dropped for the final, with the team management opting for Devdutt Padikkal instead of recalling Nair.
The selection debate gained further momentum as South Zone’s bowling attack endured a punishing two days in the field. East Zone amassed a formidable 708 runs, a total reached at Chepauk for only the third time in first-class history. The innings was anchored by a spectacular 270 from captain
A difficult outing for South Zone
Despite rotating their bowling options, including the use of Mohammad Siraj, MD Nidheesh, and part-timers like Padikkal and Shaikh Rasheed, South Zone failed to stem the flow of runs. Kishan’s performance, which stands as the eighth-highest individual score in the history of the Duleep Trophy, left the bowling unit searching for answers. By the time the East Zone innings concluded, the massive total had placed them in a commanding position in the final.
While South Zone has not provided a formal explanation for the latest team selection, the contrast between the team's struggles on the field and Nair’s immediate return to form in domestic practice has kept the issue in the spotlight. For now, the focus remains on the match outcome, with the East Zone total casting a long shadow over the remainder of the contest.
