MIXED BAG: RECORD FOR PUJARA, BAD LUCK FOR KARUN

HYDERABAD: It must have been a day of mixed feelings for Cheteshwar Pujara and Karun Nair. Both created records albeit of different kinds. While Pujara may manage a smile despite missing out on a Test hundred, Karun would just wonder what more could he have done apart from scoring a triple ton to miss out on a Test match. Pujara, on Thursday, eclipsed Chandu Borde’s five decades old national record of most runs by an Indian in a single season. Borde had scored 1604 runs in the 1964-65 season that included runs in Tests as well as first-class matches. As Pujara reached his personal score of 83, he surpassed Borde by a run and now has 1605 runs in the season. With 4 more Tests to go, Pujara may close in on 2000 runs by an Indian batsman in a single season. Interestingly, the third highest aggregate of runs by an Indian batsman in a single season stands in Pujara’s name. He had scored 1585 runs during the 2012-13 season. Not many fit players have been dropped from the playing XI after scoring a triple hundred in his previous Test match and unintentionally Karun will have to bear the ignominy of losing out on a Test match as the team management feels that Ajinkya Rahane’s consistent contribution over two years can’t be overlooked. Only three players before Karun had missed out on a next Test match after scoring a triple hundred. West Indian Andy Sandham, Sir Len Hutton of Australia and Inzamam ul Haq but the players in question weren’t fully fit.