• Source:JND
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India's Champions Trophy 2025 Squad: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh was not left happy with the team management's decision to not include the in-form Karun Nair in the Champions Trophy 2025 squad.

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced India's 15-member squad for the marquee tournament through a press conference with skipper Rohit Sharma alongside.

Karun Nair set the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament on fire with consistent performances, ending the season as the highest run-getter with 779 runs in eight matches.

He helped Vidarbha reach the Vijay Hazare Trophy final where they suffered a defeat against Karnataka on Saturday.

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Harbhajan lashed out at the selectors for ignoring Nair and questioned whether there's any point in scoring runs in domestic cricket when performing players are not being selected.

"Is there a point playing Domestic cricket when you don't pick players based on form & performance?" Harbhajan posted on X.

During the press conference, Agarkar acknowledged Karun Nair's recent form and admitted that it was indeed tough to include the star batter in a squad of 15 in the current situation.

"Yeah, it is tough. Those are really special performances. I mean, someone who averages - 700-plus, 750-plus. We did have a chat (about Karun)," Agarkar explained.

"But at the moment, to find a spot in this team is very difficult. I mean, look at the guys who've been picked. All average well in excess of mid-40s.

"So, unfortunately, you can't fit everyone in. It's a squad of 15. But those performances (like Karun) certainly make you take notice," he added.

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Having last played for India in March 2017, the 33-year-old Nair is the only Test triple-centurion for India after legendary opener Virender Sehwag.

Karun Nair scored at an average of 389.50 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and smashed a remarkable five centuries.

His omission from the Champions Trophy squad was not received well by the fans as well considering BCCI's recent guidelines for the Indian players which included a suggestion to prioritise domestic cricket.