Back in the IPL after two years, Karun Nair made a bold statement with the bat—but wasn’t interested in talking himself up afterward.
The 32-year-old batter, playing his first match of the season for Delhi Capitals, hammered a blazing 89 off just 40 balls while chasing a stiff 206-run target against Mumbai Indians. His knock included two sixes off Jasprit Bumrah in a single over—something few have done. But Delhi still fell short, losing by 12 runs.
Despite the fireworks, Nair kept things grounded in the post-match press conference.
“I did play well, but my team lost. So it really doesn’t matter. There’s no value for me in such innings if the team can’t win,” he said, brushing off personal praise.
KARUN NAIR WHEN ASKED TO TALK ABOUT HIS INNINGS:
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 14, 2025
"See, there's no benefits in talking about that. I did play well, but my team lost the match, so it really doesn't matter. There's no value for me of such innings if my team can't win". pic.twitter.com/oypXWv9l0V
Nair, who last featured in the IPL back in 2022 for Rajasthan Royals, said he was always confident of performing if given a chance.
“I’ve played the IPL before, I know the level, and nothing about it is new. For me, it was just about getting a few balls to settle in, getting used to the pace and atmosphere again.”
He wasn’t picked in Delhi’s first four matches this season, but knew his opportunity would come—and he was ready.
“Obviously, losing Faf [du Plessis] was a blow, but as batters on the bench, we knew we had to be ready. I stayed prepared all season. I kept my routines, stuck to my process, and waited for the call.”
And when it came, he delivered.
Nair’s approach during the innings was simple: keep it traditional in the Powerplay, and improvise later.
“I told myself—play your normal shots first, then open up once you’re set. Fortunately, everything came off today. I’m happy with how I batted. But again, I would’ve been happier if we had won.”
Karun Nair has 1870 domestic runs under his belt this season across formats for Vidarbha. That form clearly carried over—but he’s not dwelling on it. For now, it’s all about helping his team turn things around.
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