Chennai: No matter who India decide to play in the team as they take on Australia in the first Test in February next year, Karun Nair, with his unbeaten triple hundred against England here on Monday, has given Virat Kohli and Co. a positive headache as they sit down to pick India’s playing XI.
The Karnataka batsman, who was playing his first Test series and only the third match in the longer format of the game, punished England bowlers as India amassed 759 runs to take a 282-run lead against Alastair Cook-led side. While Karun’s teammate at Karnataka and Team India, KL Rahul, missed out on a double ton on Sunday, the 25-year-old made sure he did not miss out on a golden opportunity to etch his name in the history books with a magnificent knock at Chepauk.
1) Karun Nair became only the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple hundred in Test cricket.
2) Karun’s 303 is the third highest score for an Indian in the longer format of the game. Sehwag has scored 319 against South Africa in Chennai in 2008 and 309 against Pakistan in Multan in 2004.
3) Following his unbeaten 303, Karun also became the quickest to score a triple ton in Tests. He achieved a special feat in his 3rd Test innings.
4) Karun also became the third cricketer to convert his maiden hundred into a triple hundred.
5) While Karun became the youngest Indian to score a triple ton, he became the sixth youngest to score a triple hundred in Test cricket.
