Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) batsman Karun Nair said he is very much "motivated" to perform for the franchise during the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE, starting September 19.
Nair, who played his most recent game for India in March 2017 and featured in only one IPL encounter for Kings XI last season, also believes consistent performances in the next two months could pave way for his comeback at the highest level.
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"Very motivated,” the 28-year-old right-hand batsman told Hindustan Times. "It’s again a new season so I’m glad that all of us are getting an opportunity to play first of all. We need to thank BCCI and the governments who have been working hard to make this happen.
"Also, very happy to meet all the boys after so long and then having this opportunity to come here in UAE and play. Really excited to get started and hopefully I’m able to win some games for the team."
“IPL is such a big platform for every single player that comes from India. Whatever opportunities I can get, I’ll be looking to do as well as I can to help Kings XI win games. If I can consistently do well then opportunities will come. Just looking at it one game and one opportunity at a time," Nair added.
Nair is currently breaking the sweat at training, which for KXIP players started last Wednesday at the end of their necessary seven-day quarantine period amid the pandemic.
The training sessions are being overseen by head coach Anil Kumble and the rest of the support staff. Kumble, the spin legend, was India's head coach when Nair became only the second Indian to make a triple-century in Tests against England.
“Really happy to have him (Kumble) around,” he said. “He was the coach when I was given my India debut. I was able to do well also when he was the coach. So only positive feelings to talk about. It’s a new year and new season so it’s important for us to prepare well because all of us haven’t played in so long and then hit the ground running straightaway."
“The conversations have been good. We’ve only had a couple of sessions, interesting and exciting for everyone. The players are charged up and in great spirits and I’m sure over the course of the next 20 days, there will be many more conversations and plenty of tactics being discussed, roles being given out."
Apart from Kumble, Kings XI also have his assistant Andy Flower, fielding coach Jonty Rhodes, batting coach Wasim Jaffer to look after the players.
For Nair, the presence of his friends and domestic colleagues from Karnataka, including skipper KL Rahul, has been extra comforting.
“It gives us a comforting feeling… boys from the same state whom you’ve played so many years together with," he said. "Also, we really know each other’s games so well. We can hopefully help each other. That will be really important because we’re playing as a team and do well as a group."
