Ajit Agarkar, India’s chief selector, expressed disappointment over the omission of Karun Nair from the ODI squad for the upcoming home series against England and next month’s Champions Trophy, despite praising the senior batter’s “insane” form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Nair’s remarkable performance in the domestic competition, where he scored 779 runs in just seven matches at an extraordinary average of 389.5, including six consecutive unbeaten innings, had raised expectations for his return to the international fold after a nine-year absence. However, his exclusion from the 15-member Champions Trophy squad drew criticism from former India cricketer Surinder Khanna, who did not hold back in criticizing the decision, particularly targeting Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

“I feel Karun Nair has been a bit unfortunate. If I were the chairman of selectors, I’d definitely have backed him. After scoring that brilliant 300 in a Test match, he disappeared from the scene. Now, suddenly, he’s back in the conversation. The moon has reappeared, but it should shine for a longer period—at least 2-3 years. How many players aged 35 or 36 can you keep in the team? In limited-overs cricket, you need quick fielders,” Khanna said while speaking to ANI.

Khanna also raised concerns about the fitness levels of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He criticized the 37-year-old Rohit as a “weak” fielder, stating that opponents could easily pick up two runs if he’s stationed at the boundary. He also pointed out that Kohli tends to field inside the circle rather than in more demanding positions.

“The captain is also not in great form. If you place Rohit Sharma on the boundary, two runs will be easily taken off him. As for Virat, he usually fields in the slips and stays inside the circle. While Kohli works hard in the field, he isn’t making an impact as much as he should. I hope both of them regain their fitness, mentally and physically, and get back to their best form,” he added.

The 68-year-old, however, praised the selectors’ decision to name Shubman Gill as the vice-captain for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

“It’s a positive and encouraging step. The younger generation, who are eyeing leadership roles in the future, are being given opportunities. Shubman Gill’s stint as captain in Zimbabwe was a good learning experience for him. He has shown great potential, but he needs to focus on regaining his form. That’s key,” Khanna concluded.