Karun Nair Smashes 124 from 48 Balls in Maharaja Trophy T20: 'Wake Up Each Morning and Dream of Finding a Way Back to Play Test Cricket'

Karun Nair smashed an unbeaten 124 from just 48 balls in Mysore Warriors’s 27-run win (VJD method) over the Mangaluru Dragons in the Maharaja Trophy T20 league at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday.

Batting first, Karun Nair’s explosive 40-ball century guided Mysore to a formidable total of 226/4 in 20 overs. The Mangaluru Dragons, interrupted by rain mid-innings, were set a revised target of 166 runs in 14 overs but fell well short, suffering their second loss of the campaign.

Nair showcased blistering form, as the duo forged a 47-run partnership, the second-largest stand of the innings. Karthik S.U, who was dropped twice earlier, finally ran out of luck when MB Darshan dismissed him in the eighth over, leaving Mysore at 61/2.

Nair continued his crafty knock unfazed, sweeping and scooping his way to a rapid 27-ball half-century. At the other end, Samit Dravid (16) was scalped by Nischit Rao, just one ball after dispatching him for a maximum.

Nair launched two sixes and a four against Paras Gurbax Arya in the 15th over before taking down Nischith Rao with three massive sixes to reach a blistering century off just 40 balls in the penultimate over. His century saw 13 fours and nine sixes.

Nair then finished the innings with authority hammering five consecutive boundaries (6, 6, 4, 4, 4) to power Mysore to an imposing 226/4 in their 20 overs.

‘Still exciting to wake up each morning and dream of finding a way back to play Test cricket’

Ahead of the match, Nari speaking to ESPNcricinfo, said he still hope of making a return to Test for India.

“They say a player peaks at 30-31, I would like to believe that’s true in my case,” Nair said.

“The last one year has been good. After last year’s Maharaja T20, I had a pretty good domestic season.”

Last season Nair scored 690 runs to help Vidarbha reach the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy final.

“I am just making sure if I get opportunities, wherever it may be, the focus is on making the most of those chances so that I can climb up the stairs again”

“If you told me at the start of last season that I would score these many runs, I would have taken that,” Nair said. “I had been at home for a year, staved off opportunities, and when nothing worked out, I asked myself what I could do. So when I got the chance, it felt good to be able to contribute again. The tough years have helped me push myself that much more. For me, the most important game is the one I am playing now. Be it a league game or a domestic game, I have learnt not to look far ahead.”

“I feel like I’m batting as well as I’ve ever done. I am in a good head space, I know where my game is. I am just making sure if I get opportunities, wherever it may be, the focus is on making the most of those chances so that I can climb up the stairs again. It’s still exciting to wake up each morning and dream of finding a way back to play Test cricket. That keeps me going. I would love to win trophies; we missed out in the Ranji last year. I will try to correct it this year,” he added.