After triple ton and low, Karun eyes IPL success
Karun Nair is aiming to repeat last year’s match-winning show for Delhi Daredevils at his home ground when they face Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday.
“I feel great to come back to my home ground,” the Karnataka batsman told Hindustan Times on Friday. In 2016, Quinton de Kock (108) and Nair (54*) raised a134-run stand to take the team to an easy win. “I’ve always had good memories here, I am looking forward to starting the tournament really well and contributing to Daredevils winning the game,” he said.
DEPLETED BATTING
RCB’S batting is diminished as skipper Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and KL Rahul are injured. Daredevils, who ended sixth in 2016, will miss South Africa’s de Kock and JP Duminy.
Nair, 25, was the second highest-scorer for Daredevils last season (357). In December, he touched great heights when he hit 303* in the final Test against England in Chennai, emulating Gary Sobers and Bob Simpson by converting his maiden ton into a triple.
But the pressure to live up to expectations showed as he made 54 runs in four innings against Australia.
Did the triple ton play on his mind during the Australia series? “Not at all. (In fact) it gives you confidence you have been able to score big runs. Honestly, I believe I was playing really well, just that I could not convert the starts.
ONLY PROCESS MATTERS
“I am confident the way I am hitting the ball, a big knock is around the corner. I have my own expectations. I am rather thinking about that... The results don’t matter as long as I’m putting in the hard work.”
Anxiety would have gnawed at any other batsman unable to build on a triple century, but not Nair. “I’d like to start (IPL) on a good note. For me, the more important thing is the team winning. “