Karun Nair grabbed eyeballs after his scintillating triple ton on Day 4 of the fifth Test match between India and England in Chennai on Monday. With his incredible performance, the right-hander also became the second cricketer in Indian history, after Sehwag, to score a triple hundred. It was a classy game from Nair, who looked at ease against both the spinners as well as the pacers to score an unbeaten 303 runs.
What makes this performance even more special is that he achieved it in only his third Test. Nair, who made his debut in the third Test earlier in the series in Mohali, looked below par in that Test and also the next one, but the right-hander looked strong in the fifth Test, scoring the triple ton. Sehwag considers it a rare achievement, and somewhat luck as very few cricketers have converted his maiden 100 into 300 runs in the same innings.
"He is lucky. I say lucky because he has managed to score his 50, 100, 200 and even 300 in the same knock. All milestones in the same innings is a rare achievement. I had seen his triple hundred in a Ranji final and that day I knew that he is in for a long haul," Mumbai Mirror quoted Sehwag as saying.
India captain Virat Kohli also played an important role in allowing Nair the chance to score his triple hundred as the skipper had a chance to declare early too. Kohli only did so after Nair completed his landmark, but Nair also played his part, scoring runs at a quick rate, understanding that Kohli was looking to declare.
Nair scored his last 108 runs in 78 balls, and it was then that the right-hander also showed he can excel in the fifty-over format as well. Sehwag hopes Nair's innings is just the start of his brilliant career.
"He deserved it. There was a conscious effort to reach there. That he took 70-odd balls to reach 300 from 200 is an indication of his intent. Hopefully, it is the beginning of a new beginning. I hope and wish more and more Indian players reach the milestone," Sehwag said.
