Karun Nair smashes breathtaking 124* in Maharaja T20 Trophy
Karun Nair, a seasoned cricketer who has represented India in six Tests and two ODIs, delivered an outstanding performance in the Maharaja T20 Trophy tournament on Monday. Playing for the Mysore Warriors against the Mangalore Dragons at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Nair scored an unbeaten 124 runs off just 48 balls. This remarkable innings led his team to a victory by 27 runs (VJD method) in a match shortened due to rain.
Nair's partnership with Dravid and Bhandage
The Mysore Warriors, led by Nair, were put into bat first by Mangalore skipper Shreyas Gopal. The team had a slow start, reaching 61/2 in eight overs. Nair then formed partnerships with Samit Dravid (16) and later Manoj Bhandage (31 off 14 balls), which proved to be game-changers. After losing Sumit Kumar (15) in the 16th over, Nair and Bhandage accelerated the scoring rate, adding an impressive 85 runs in just 29 balls.
Nair's impressive strike rate and match outcome
Nair's unbeaten 124 included 13 fours and nine sixes, resulting in an impressive strike rate of 258.33. In response to the Warriors's onslaught, the Dragons could only manage 138/7 in 14 overs before rain halted play. The match was ultimately decided by the VJD method, resulting in a victory for the Warriors by a margin of 27 runs.
Nair's career struggles and aspirations
Despite his recent success, Nair has faced challenges in his cricketing career. He last played a Test match for India in March 2017 and has not been part of an IPL team since 2022. However, he remains resilient and continues to perform well in domestic cricket. "I feel like I'm batting as well as I've ever done," Nair told ESPNCricinfo, expressing his desire to make a comeback in Test cricket and win trophies.
