On the surface, Karun Nair’s return to the India fold was a disappointment – aggregating 205 runs across eight innings at an average of just over 25. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see that he was part of vital first-innings partnerships in both Tests that India won, at Edgbaston and The Oval. In the second part of this exclusive chat with Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, Karun talks of his game-changing Oval half-century, fake viral pictures and the indefatigable Mohammed Siraj.
Boria: One thing that both the team could’ve done better was slip catching, but you stood out. How much training does that require? What does it require to stay focussed and wait hours for that one catch to come?
Karun: England is a tough place to catch. When both teams are dropping a few catches, then there must be factors involved. It has been a really tough series to sight the ball at times, and then getting your hands in the right position to catch. One second late in sighting the ball can make all the difference. While practicing, it was about recreating those situations and background where the ball can come from and focussing on how would we react when we don’t see the ball as well. I’ve always been someone who has worked on my catching, and being in the slips throughout my career, it has come naturally to me. I’m grateful to Shubman (Gill) for letting me stand at first slip, which I had a discussion with him about before the start of the series. He had put himself at third slip and let me do the first slip duty, which was really nice of him. All I had to do was pay him back for the faith he showed in me.
Boria: The 57 you hit had a huge impact on us winning the final Test match. What do you have to say about it?
Karun: Yeah, at that time, I was very critical of myself and thought that I should’ve made a 100, but reflecting upon it later, I would say those 57 runs were equally important in that first innings. The game was at a very difficult position and it was obviously a very important game for us with the tricky wicket. I’m glad that I could get those runs for myself and for the team. We kept losing wickets at regular intervals and, like I said earlier, my whole process and focus was on building those small partnerships and helping the team get to a respectable total in that first innings.
Boria: A picture of you and KL (Rahul) got viral. If can please reflect on that picture, on how emotional you were or what that picture was all about?
Karun: I think that’s an AI (Artificial Intelligence)-created picture. We obviously were sitting on the balcony, but I don’t think that picture is real and I don’t think that happened at all. I think we should stop looking at these things. As a player, there isn’t anything we can do to stop these things, but just saying from my end that there isn’t any truth in that picture.
And a word on KL (Rahul)… it is amazing to see the way he has approached this whole series. It looked like he came there with a plan, and for an opener to get over 500 runs facing the new ball day in and day out was sure not easy. But he made it look very easy, from the outside at least. The kind of starts that he gave the team was amazing. Really happy for him and I’m sure that he will want to keep doing these things and keep recreating these starts. He looks like a player who knows his game really well, and it looks like he is just going out there having fun and batting the way he knows.
For More Exciting Articles: Follow RevSportz
Boria: A word on Mohammed Siraj, the final 57 minutes, and you walking around the boundary because of the injury you had. What was it like?
Karun: I really wanted to be there on the field and be with the boys, so I was doing whatever I could do to help the team. And the word on Siraj would be that he is just an amazing person who goes out there every single time and gives his best and doesn’t worry about the result. That embodies him to the fullest. He is someone who gives his heart out there for the country, and I was so happy for him and also the other bowlers – Prasidh (Krishna) Akash (Deep) – for taking those crucial wickets whenever needed throughout the series. England was batting at a different tempo, but for us what was important was getting those wickets. For Siraj, he took the last wickets and I am really happy for him. We shared fun moments off the field as well, so it was great to see him go out there and do what he was doing.
Boria: What does Karun Nair look ahead to as home series are coming up in the next year and year and a half?
Karun: Just preparing myself as we have some time to get ourselves ready. Doing the same things like I said before, taking one day at a time and making sure that I do all the stuff that has brought me here. Trying to get better in every aspect, doing the same things, and not trying to change anything. Just want to stay ready for when the series comes by, because home seasons are exciting and I will be looking forward to it. Playing at home is something every Indian cricketer looks forward to, so would want to embrace that pressure and express myself.
Boria: That tweet of yours where you ask cricket to give you a second chance , which eventually you got. How do you reflect back on it?
Karun: I think it was just a moment of emotion that I was feeling at that time. Those few months would probably go down as something that kept me going through the last few years. Thinking about where I was and where I am now really pushes me to keep going, not give up and remain grateful. Those moments keep me grounded and makes me keep doing what I do.
Boria: Thank you for your time, Karun.
Karun: Thank you.