India, Sept. 7 -- Veteran India batter Karun Nair was not picked in the playing XI for the South Zone side for a second straight Duleep Trophy game this season. After being snubbed for the semifinal against North Zone last week, Nair was once again left out of the XI for the final against East Zone. Nair, who has played 10 Tests for India and is the most experienced player in the current South Zone squad, responded with both a century and a pointed message.

Ignored for the finale at the Chepauk, Nair showed up at the KSCA's pre-season warm-up game, featuring for Secretary XI against Chhattisgarh, and notched up a century. The knock underlined Nair's form and raised questions over South Zone's decision to leave out an experienced batter o...