Karun Nair is an experienced Indian cricketer known for his elegant stroke play and ability to anchor innings. He gained prominence with his triple century in Test cricket and has been a consistent performer in domestic tournaments. In IPL 2025, he is set to play for Delhi Capitals (DC), bringing his vast experience and recent outstanding domestic form to the team.
Personal Details of Karun Nair:
| Full Name | Karun Kaladharan Nair |
|---|---|
| Born | December 6, 1991 (33 years) |
| Birthplace | Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-break |
| Role | Batsman |
| IPL Team (2025) | Delhi Capitals (DC) |
Early Life & Domestic Career
Karun Nair started his cricketing journey in Karnataka’s domestic circuit and quickly became a key player in Ranji Trophy. He was instrumental in Karnataka’s multiple Ranji Trophy victories and later played for teams like Rajasthan and Vidarbha. In the 2024-25 domestic season, Nair made headlines with an extraordinary Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, where he scored 779 runs at an average of 389.50, including a hat-trick of unbeaten centuries. His strong performances continued in the Ranji Trophy, amassing 860 runs at an average of 57.33.
IPL Journey with Delhi Capitals
Karun Nair has been a part of multiple IPL franchises, including Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders. Ahead of IPL 2025, he was signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹50 lakh. His ability to play spin well and accelerate in the middle overs makes him a key asset for DC’s batting lineup.
IPL Stats
| Y | Team | M | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 4s | 6s |
| 2022 | KKR | 3 | 16 | 13 | 8.00 | 18 | 88.89 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | KXIP | 4 | 16 | 15* | 8.00 | 14 | 114.28 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | KXIP | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5.00 | 6 | 83.33 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | KXIP | 13 | 301 | 54 | 25.08 | 221 | 136.19 | 23 | 13 |
| 2017 | DD | 14 | 281 | 64 | 21.61 | 226 | 124.33 | 39 | 6 |
| 2016 | DD | 14 | 357 | 83* | 35.70 | 297 | 120.20 | 40 | 6 |
| 2015 | RR | 14 | 181 | 61 | 16.45 | 145 | 124.82 | 18 | 5 |
| 2014 | RR | 11 | 330 | 73* | 33.00 | 232 | 142.24 | 38 | 9 |
| 2013 | RCB | 2 | 9 | 9 | 4.50 | 12 | 75.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | Multiple | 76 | 1496 | 83* | 23.75 | 1171 | 127.75 | 161 | 39 |
(Stats will be updated as the season progresses.)
Delhi Capitals (DC) Players List for IPL 2025
Retained Players (Pre-Auction)
- Axar Patel (Captain, All-Rounder) – ₹16.50 crore
- Kuldeep Yadav (Bowler) – ₹13.25 crore
- Tristan Stubbs (Wicketkeeper-Batter) – ₹10 crore
- Abishek Porel (Wicketkeeper-Batter, Uncapped) – ₹4 crore
Players Bought at IPL 2025 Auction
- KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper-Batter) – ₹14 crore
- Mitchell Starc (Bowler) – ₹11.75 crore
- T Natarajan (Bowler) – ₹10.75 crore
- Jake Fraser-McGurk (Batter) – ₹9 crore (via Right to Match)
- Mukesh Kumar (Bowler) – ₹8 crore (via Right to Match)
- Harry Brook (Batter) – ₹6.25 crore
- Ashutosh Sharma (All-Rounder, Uncapped) – ₹3.80 crore
- Faf du Plessis (Batter, Vice-Captain) – ₹2 crore
- Mohit Sharma (Bowler) – ₹2.20 crore
- Sameer Rizvi (All-Rounder, Uncapped) – ₹95 lakh
- Karun Nair (Batter) – ₹50 lakh
- Donovan Ferreira (Wicketkeeper-Batter) – ₹75 lakh
- Dushmantha Chameera (Bowler) – ₹1 crore
- Ajay Mandal (All-Rounder, Uncapped) – ₹30 lakh
- Darshan Nalkande (All-Rounder) – ₹1 crore
- Manvanth Kumar (All-Rounder, Uncapped) – ₹30 lakh
- Madhav Tiwari (All-Rounder, Uncapped) – ₹30 lakh
- Tripurana Vijay (All-Rounder, Uncapped) – ₹30 lakh
- Vipraj Nigam (All-Rounder, Uncapped) – ₹30 lakh
Squad Summary
- Total Players: 23 (out of a maximum 25 slots; 2 slots remain unfilled as of now).
- Purse Spent: ₹119.80 crore out of ₹120 crore, leaving ₹0.20 crore (20 lakh) remaining (per IPLT20.com).
- Breakdown:
- Batters: Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Harry Brook, Karun Nair.
- Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Donovan Ferreira.
- All-Rounders: Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, Darshan Nalkande, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Vipraj Nigam.
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera.
- Overseas Players: 7 (out of max 8): Starc, Fraser-McGurk, Stubbs, Brook, du Plessis, Ferreira, Chameera.
- Captain: Axar Patel (confirmed by DC on March 14, 2025, via X @DelhiCapitals).
- Vice-Captain: Faf du Plessis (announced March 18, per Times of India).
- Coach: Hemang Badani (replacing Ricky Ponting).
- Director of Cricket: Venugopal Rao.
With his recent record-breaking performances in domestic cricket, Karun Nair is expected to be a vital middle-order batter for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. His experience, technique, and ability to play under pressure make him a key player to watch this season.
Why is Karun Nair famous?
He is known for being the second Indian cricketer to score a triple century in Test cricket.
Which team does Karun Nair play for in IPL 2025?
He is playing for Delhi Capitals.
What was his performance in the recent domestic season?
He had an outstanding Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 779 runs at an average of 389.50, and performed well in the Ranji Trophy.
What role will he play in Delhi Capitals?
He is expected to strengthen the middle order and provide stability in crucial situations.
