New Delhi:
Karun Nair became only the second Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket. After the sad demise of former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa and Cyclone Vardah, the Chennai spectators had something to smile and cheer about.
This innings by the Karnataka batsman had everything in it, sweeps, reverse sweeps, cover drives, square drives, pulls and hooks. He scored his century with the aggresion of Sehwag and the grace of Dravid.
A classical square-cut brought up the landmark for Nair. Alastair Cook had brought all his men into single-saving positions with Nair on 299. Adil Rashid dropped short, Nair slapped it away, and Cook just happened to be the fielder diving uselessly to his left from cover point. Karun Nair isn’t your celebrated youngster sending waves across the globe but he’s good enough.
Good enough to get a triple ton, good enough to perhaps extend the rights to his Test spot, and good enough to show his Karnataka teammate KL Rahul how its done. The way he handles the spin, times his sweep and the temperament with which he slaps the bowlers for runs is amazing.
Nair has been a consistent run getter for his state side Karnataka in Ranji Trophy and was rewarded with a Test cap after a stellar season with the willow in last Ranji season. Consistent performances for Karnataka and India A earned him an India call-up in 2015, when he joined the Test squad in Sri Lanka as a replacement to M Vijay - though he did not debut.
In the 2016 IPL auction, Nair cashed in big time, selling for Rs 4 crore to Delhi Daredevils - 40 times his base price of Rs 10 lakh. In November that year, he got that much-awaited Test debut, playing England in Mohali after KL Rahul had to pull out injured.
