Karun Nair played a stunning knock on Sunday evening at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi for Delhi Capitals. He smashed a quickfire 40-ball 89-run knock, but it went in vain as DC lost the game against the Mumbai Indians by 12 runs. However, with this defeat, DC’s winning run to five matches in a row also ended.
While speaking about this in the post-match press conference, Karun Nair said, “We play to win the match, so there is disappointment. And no matter how much we score, if the team does not win, then there is no value of it. For me, the team’s win was very important, and it did not happen. But it’s a learning, and we will go forward, and I hope I will keep performing like this, and we will win. There is no point talking about my innings, because I played well, but I could not finish, so there is disappointment.”
Delhi Capitals were struggling at 119 for 1 in 10.1 overs, but then the they faced a shocking collapse and lost the next nine batters for just 73 runs as well. According to Karun, they lost wickets at regular intervals, and that changed the game as well.
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“Obviously, it was easier for the set batsman to play than for the new batsman. So it was very important for a set batter to continue. We lost wickets at regular intervals, so it was difficult for us in the end. But having said that, they (MI) also bowled well and put us under pressure,” Karun said. “We were not able to stitch partnerships, which is important in T20. But that happens because we are all looking to score runs quickly, and like I said before, it’s a learning, and we have to take this forward in the next games and keep up the winning momentum that we have.”
However, Karun Nair, who made headlines in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this year with his stunning batting show for Vidarbha, had to wait for four matches to play an IPL match and when the opportunity came, he grabbed it with both hands.
“Look, obviously, we lost an important player in Faf, and we always knew there were a few of us who were sitting outside who are batsmen who should be and have to be ready at any given time. So mentally I was ready and looking forward to the chance whenever it came. So I am really happy that I got the opportunity. It’s about me now, going out there and capitalising on that opportunity.”
He also opined on his batting approach against Jasprit Bumrah, whom he smashed for two fours in the fourth over of the run chase and two sixes and one four in the last over of the powerplay as well.
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“Obviously, I was confident, and I was playing; I was in the flow, and I didn’t want to stop the flow, so it was about picking the right balls and playing to the areas that I wanted to play, and he is the best bowler at the moment in world cricket, so I had to be very watchful of where he is going to bowl, but again, I just backed myself and backed the areas that I wanted to score,” he stated.
“In my mind, right now this tournament (IPL) is going on, and the way I performed well in the season, I feel that I should continue, and whatever consistency I’m showing, keep doing that and don’t think too much about the future. Think about each and every match and treat every day as a new day. For me, right now, the most important thing is that whatever opportunities I get, I have to fully utilise them, and whatever happens in the future will be seen, but for now I’m focused on every match,” Karun Nair concluded.
