After taking a two-year break from the Indian Premier League, Karun Nair made a strong comeback with the Delhi Capitals. He really impressed everyone with his skills, racking up an impressive 89 runs off just 40 balls while chasing down a tough target of 206. Unfortunately, his effort wasn’t enough for the team, and they ended up losing to the Mumbai Indians by 12 runs, finishing at 193 in 19 overs.
Karun knew what to expect from the game, even after being away for a while. He had played in the league before and was confident in his abilities. During the domestic season, he had been in fantastic form, scoring 1870 runs for Vidarbha, which boosted his confidence a lot. When he faced Jasprit Bumrah, he even managed to hit two sixes in one of his overs, which not many batters can claim they’ve done.
When asked about his personal performance, Karun was humble. He noted that it really didn’t matter how well he played if the team didn’t win. Look, there’s really no point in talking too much about my innings. Sure, I did well, but we lost, and that’s what counts, he said during the press conference. He wants to win games, and individual scores don’t hold much weight if they don’t translate into victories.
Reflecting on his past experience, he mentioned that having played in the IPL before helped him stay calm. I knew how things would be, and nothing felt completely new this time around, he said, adding that getting acclimated to the pace of the game was his main focus. He last played in the 2022 season for the Rajasthan Royals, so getting back into the swing of things was essential.
Karun also talked about his batting strategy. He planned to start with conventional shots during the Powerplay and then switch it up as the innings progressed. I told myself to take my time, play my usual shots, and then improvise when necessary. Luckily, it all worked out, but it would have felt even better if we’d won, he shared.
He sat out the first four games but always had a feeling that his chance would come. “Of course, we lost a key player like Faf, and we knew the rest of us needed to be ready at any moment. I kept my head in the game, waiting for my moment,” he explained. “I felt confident that I had prepared well for the IPL and was ready when the opportunity came.”
Choosing who plays in the team is a tough job for coaches, and Karun respects that process. “I’ve been preparing the same way that’s worked for me before, ready to step in and perform for my teammates whenever called upon,” he concluded.
