Karun Nair understands how difficult success at the top level international cricket is and he learnt it the harsh way.
He burst onto the scene with a triple hundred against England in the 2016 Chennai Test, but failed to live upto the expectations in the Australia series that followed, with his subsequent scores reading 26, 0, 23, 5 and got dropped from the side.
His struggles against the Australian fast bowlers, who moved the ball at quick pace, were apparent. Since then, Karun has worked immensely over his game by again going through the grinds of domestic cricket for Karnataka and he was recently rewarded for it. He is part of the side in absence of Virat Kohli and is likely to make the eleven when India's historic Test against Afghanistan starts on June 14th.
Karun was recently quoted saying about his return as, “I am very happy to make a comeback to the Test squad, I’m really excited to be given another opportunity, it has been a while now. I have worked very hard over the last one and a half years. I know that I have become better. I am really excited.”
“I have improved my skills over the last two years and I have become much fitter,I have done a lot and scoring runs in domestic cricket really helps. I have worked on my fitness, my fielding and every aspect of the game. I know that I am a better batsman now than I was two years ago. I’d like to take that confidence into everything that I do.”
Karun knows, just like the last time, the opportunities when you play for India could be limited and players have to make the most of them. He said, “That’s the case with every individual that comes into the team. You know that you’re going to get a few innings and you have to make the most of it. It has been the case with everyone. If you settle down and keep making consistent scores, then you have some breathing space. It’s always like that for everyone in any team. You’re obviously waiting for that one opportunity to do well, so like anyone else, I am excited.”
Karun has the opportunity to cement his place in the Test side in England this year but he is more perturbed by the present and feels he has to focus on this Afghanistan game before and reiterated how important the upcoming India 'A' series in England is for him.
“For me, there’s still a long way to go. I still have this Test match to play and an ‘A’ series to play. I’m not thinking so far ahead. Obviously, the ‘A’ series preparations are going on. First and foremost is this Test match. I would like to do well in this Test and go on from there,”
“The ‘A’ series bridges the gap between international cricket and domestic. Otherwise, there would be too much of a gap. Players getting a chance in the ‘A’ series is good for their preparation. If you get to go overseas it’s better, and we’re getting to go to England. For most of us, that’s going to be the first trip to England, and it being before India’s tour of England, it’s really good.”
Karun Nair is young and has a lot of scope for improvement in his game and is extremely desperate to be not just known for his 303* that he hit two years back.
“It has been a long time now. It has been about two years. Unless you guys don’t bring it up, I am not thinking about it. It’s time that we all moved on and looked ahead.”
(Inputs from Wisden India)
