Karun Nair makes a statement!!

I felt confident. I felt like, you know, I'm well prepared to play in the IPL if given the opportunity. So it was all about me preparing the way that I've been all through the season and waiting for my chance, Karun said

HYDERABAD: In December 2022, Karun Nair, the best batter across all formats in domestic cricket, virtually pleaded on his social media post – ‘One more chance’!

And on Sunday night, the Karnataka batter was the lead performer as an ‘Impact Player’ with the willow (40-ball 89) for Delhi Capitals, albeit in a lost cause against Mumbai Indians when his team snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

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“Look, obviously, we lost an important player in Faf, and we always knew – the few of us batters who are sitting outside who should be and have to be ready at any given time,” the 33-year-old Karun said after the stunning loss.

“So, mentally, I was ready, and obviously looking forward to the chance, whenever it came,” he said.

“I felt confident. I felt like, you know, I’m well prepared to play in the IPL if given the opportunity. So it was all about me preparing the way that I’ve been all through the season and waiting for my chance,” Karun explained.

“So I was doing my bit to prepare and be ready for the game. It’s always a tough call for the team to pick 11 or 12 players, and I’ve always respected that,” the top-order batter who played some exquisite cricketing shots with emphasis on timing and placement rather than the slam-bang approach.

“For me, it was about preparing and keeping the same process that I followed, which has worked for me, and just being ready to go out there and perform for the team,” he said.

“Honestly, I had the confidence that I’ve played [IPL] before and I know how it’s going to be, and it’s nothing different that I’m going to be facing anything new,” Karun said.

“So, but in my mind, it was just about going out there and giving myself a few balls and just getting used to the speed of the game again and the atmosphere. So I just told myself, ‘give yourself the time, play normal shots and then, you know, improvise when needed,” he explained.

“Fortunately, everything came off, and I’m happy that I batted well. But again, I would have loved that if the team had gone on to win,” Karun concluded.