India vs England | Karun Nair : Best knock I have played in my life

12/19/2016

After becoming only the second triple-centurion from India and the third ever to convert his maiden century into a triple, Karun Nair described his unbeaten 303 as the best innings of his life. Nair also recalled an incident earlier this year when he was saved from drowning after his boat capsized.

Karun Nair scored an unbeaten 303 to take India to its highest-ever total in Tests – a mammoth 759. Karun broke many records enroute to the triple century. He became only the third batsman to convert his maiden century into a triple century after the great Sir Garfield Sobers and Bob Simpson. Nair is also only the second Indian batsman after Virender Sehwag to have scored a triple century.

Karun called it his best knock and thanked the team for the effort.

"Best knock I have played in my life. Many situations in the middle when I had to play differently, with Rahul, Ashwin and Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja). I have to thank them for supporting me, egging me on. The first hundred is always important and I think when I got the first hundred, I didn't feel any pressure. I was just playing my shots after that," he said after the day ended.

Karun also thanked the team management for letting him get to the mark without any additional pressure as the declaration figure loomed in the background.

"The message was to attack in the third session. We had a set overs to declare on, but when I got closer to 300, they pushed it back. I'm thankful to the team management."

Karun's family was in the stands watching him whizz from the 200-mark to 300 in just 72 balls. The batsman, in fact, reached the 300 mark with a delightful cut that raced to the boundary.

"(Family sitting in the stands) My dad watches most of my games. No extra pressure on me. I'd like to thank them for coming over. I think they should be proud of me," he said.

When Adil Rashid came over to bowl to Karun when he was at 299, many were reminded of KL Rahul's dismissal at 199 by the same bowler. Karun, however, did not follow his Karnataka teammate and ensured it did not take too long. The batsman hoped that Rahul would get to his double-century sooner than later.

"Rahul is a good player. He'll get his 200 soon. The pitch is getting worse day by day. Hard for a new batsman. It's turning a bit right now, hope it turns more tomorrow," he said.

Karun also recalled an event earlier this year when he was rescued from the water after his boat capsized during a family trip for a festival.

"I didn't know how to swim. People there rescued me and I was lucky to live again (about the boat accident in his home in Kerala)," Karun told the official broadcasters.

India vs England | Karun Nair : Best knock I have played in my life

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