Karun Nair takes a direct dig at Tilak Varma [Source: AFP]Veteran Indian batter Karun Nair took a cheeky dig at South Zone captain Tilak Varma after being ignored for the Duleep Trophy 2026 final. Led by Tilak Varma, the South Zone team is currently clashing with the East Zone in a riveting clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. While Ishan Kishan's scintillating double hundred has pushed South Zone onto the back foot, the Karun Nair vs Tilak Varma feud has indicated that everything is not right in their camp. Karun Nair vs Tilak Varma clash: How did it all begin?Despite failing to prove his mettle for the Indian team, Karun Nair is a stalwart in domestic cricket, having amassed 9374 First-Class runs, including 26 centuries. Although he was included in the South Zone Duleep Trophy squad, captain Tilak Varma didn't show faith in the experienced campaigner, picking Hyderabad's young cricketer Kodimala Himateja in the playing XI for the semifinal against North Zone. Speaking to the media ahead of the Duleep Trophy final, Varma, in his defence, stated that it was his tactical decision to leave out Karun for the crucial clash. “Karun is just unlucky. He has scored a lot of runs in domestic seasons. I have chosen Himateja in place of Karun as they have good left-arm spinners. So we wanted a leftie in the middle order. He has also scored a decent amount of runs in domestic cricket. I was just backing him. As a youngster, he also has a good career. At the same time, it is very unfortunate for Karun," Tilak had said. Also Read: Tilak Varma, Mohammed Siraj Hound Ishan Kishan With Verbal ExchangeAlthough Karun stayed with the team and attended the training sessions, he was reportedly livid upon learning of his exclusion from the South Zone playing XI for the Duleep Trophy final against East Zone. According to Cricinfo, Nair left the South Zone squad and played for KSCA Secretary XI against Chhattisgarh at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium while the Duleep Trophy final was underway in Chennai. Reacting to the incident, South Zone coach Vikram Verma said that Karun Nair had left the team due to personal reasons. Karun Nair reacts after scoring century for KSCA XI vs ChhattisgarhAfter leaving the South Zone squad, Nair hammered a century for the KSCA XI against Chhattisgarh. Following his fluent century, Cricinfo journalist Shashank Kishore called Nair's exclusion from the South Zone playing XI 'inexplicable', considering the in-form experienced batter would've added great value to the side. Shashank Kishore @captainshanky A day after being left out inexplicably for a second straight Duleep Trophy fixture by South Zone, @karun126 brings up a superb century for KSCA Secretary XI against Chhattisgarh in the KSCA's pre-season red-ball comp. South Zone could've done with his presence in pursuit of a The post grabbed Karun Nair's attention, as he quoted it with a quirky comment: "Inexplicable would be an understatement", thereby taking a direct dig at South Zone captain Tilak Varma and coach Vikram Verma. Karun Nair @karun126 Inexplicable would be an understatement🤣 Was Karun Nair's Duleep Trophy snub justified?Kodimala Himateja, whom Tilak Varma preferred over Karun Nair, was dismissed for a duck in the semifinal against North Zone. Meanwhile, Nair showed no signs of slowing down when he last played red-ball cricket in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, amassing 699 runs in 13 innings, at a magnificent average of 58.25. In fact, his valiant double hundred helped Karnataka secure an emphatic victory over Kerala by an innings and 164 runs in the tournament. Karun carried his form and confidence to the Maharaja Trophy as well, scoring 337 runs at a blistering strike rate of 158.22. Tilak Varma picked the left-handed Himateja due to the presence of several left-arm spinners in the North Zone team. But Nair has an average of 72 against the bowling type in Test cricket. Thus, although he is on the wrong side of the thirties and Tilak Varma's decision to back Himateja was apparently strategic, Nair deserved to play the Duleep Trophy knockouts. Also Read: Marnus Labuschagne Not Alone! Australia Players Who Need To Deliver In South Africa Tests
