Longest Gaps Between Test Matches Appearances: Full List ft. Karun Nair

Very few cricketers get a second chance in Test cricket, but every now and then, someone does make a remarkable return. Jaydev Unadkat was one such story, he fought his way back into the Indian Test team after 12 long years, having missed 118 matches in between.

Now, another comeback has grabbed the spotlight. On Friday, in Leeds during the first Test between India and England, Karun Nair returned to the Indian Test side after more than eight years—specifically, 83 days short of nine years. His last appearance was on March 25, 2017, in Dharamsala, against Australia. Since then, he has been out of action for 77 Tests. It’s a special moment for the Karnataka batter and a reminder that perseverance does pay off.

Indian Cricketers with the Longest Gaps Between Two Test Matches

Lala Amarnath holds the record for the longest gap between two Test matches for India. After playing a Test, he was out of the team for an incredible 12 years and 129 days before making a comeback to the playing XI. Interestingly, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi also had a similar story, he too returned to Test cricket after a 12-year break.

Karun Nair’s Journey with Team India: A Timeline

Karun Nair made his debut for India in June 2016 in ODIs, and later that year, in November, he played his first Test match against England in Mohali. In his short Test career, he played 6 matches and scored 374 runs, including a memorable triple century. He also featured in 2 ODIs.

However, after being dropped from the national team, things didn’t go well for him in domestic cricket either. His form dipped, and he even lost his place in the Karnataka side. But Karun didn’t give up. He worked hard and made a strong comeback, this time playing for Vidarbha. His performances in the 2024-25 domestic season were outstanding, and he once again made headlines with his batting.

Longest Gaps Between Test Cricket Appearances

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