IPL 2018: Never thought Karnataka trio would play for the same team, says Karun Nair

KXIP standing at third spot in IPL 2018 Points Tanle, needs 4 points to qualify for the Playoffs.

Karun Nair has scored 246 runs for KXIP | IANS

Karun Nair, KXIP middle-order batsman has recently said that never in his "wildest dream" did he think that he, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal would together for the same franchise in the IPL. This year Punjab roped in the trio to strengthen their batting line up. 

KXIP bid high for the Karnataka trio during the IPL Auction 2018 to acquire their services in the ongoing tournament, where they have been doing well with willow so far. The KXIP was brought Rahul for 11 crores, Nair 5.6 crore and Agrawal for 1 crore in the auction.

Besides Chris Gayle, the trio even has been crucial in KXIP’s win in the IPL 2018 so far, and Karun –India’s second triple-centurion in Tests, said that the amount of faith shown by the franchise on them has motivated the Karnataka boys to do well for the team in the IPL 2018.

Nair told the Indian Express, “It’s a huge thing for three of us to play together because all three of us started playing junior cricket together. So it’s a nice feeling to come back together for Kings XI. Probably never in my wildest dream did I think that we would play together in the same IPL team. But once we got selected and the amount of faith shown by the franchise, it has motivated us to do well for the team.”

Commenting on Virender Sehwag, Nair said, “To share the dressing room with a legend like Sehwag is a great feeling. He gives us so much freedom and as a person, he is just like his batting- aggressive with a lot of freedom. I had quite a few interactions with him where he has told me to pick the right situation and to do the right things. So looking forward to implementing them and perform well for the team.”

He signed off by saying, “When you are in a team you obviously play as a group to do well for the team. You are always thinking about the situation of the team and that is what occupies the mind. But it is obviously helpful that the three of us know each other for a long time. We can help each other out in the middle as we know our strengths and weaknesses.”

Now, KXIP will lock horns against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their next IPL 2018 encounter at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on Monday (14 May) with the aim to get an inch closer to playoffs spot.

 

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 14 May, 2018

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