Didn't put any extra pressure on myself, says triple centurion Karun Nair

Chennai [India], Dec. 19 (ANI): 25-year-old middle-order batsman Karun Nair, who on Monday scripted history by becoming the second Indian batsman to score a triple hundred in the Chennai Test after former opener Virendra Sehwag, said he was happy to score the runs as he made the most of the opportunity provided to him. Nair's unbeaten 303* helped India to declare on 759/7, thus getting a lead of 282 runs on the fourth day of the Chennai Test against England. It was India's highest total in Test cricket eclipsing 726/9 against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2009. The historic achievement was completed by the Karnataka batsman with a cut off a short, wide delivery from Adil Rashid, beating opposition captain Alastair Cook at point. Nair has also become the quickest to bring up a triple-century, taking only three innings to get to the milestone for the first time in his career, as compared to Len Hutton's nine. Addressing the media, Nair said, "After getting the hundred, pressure was off. So, I just played my shots normally. I am happy that I got the runs. There was no extra pressure that I put on myself." "They say make hay when the sun shine. So I think I wasn't thinking much about it and we are three in a love. So I think they (England) are already almost out of the game. So, I think I don't know how are they feeling right now but I am just happy that I got the runs, I made the most of it." "Once after I crossed 250, the team management had certain plans of going after the bowling and declaring. So, from there on I started hitting and once I reached 280, Jaddu (Jadeja) told me to take it easy and get to 300 mark," he added. It was pure domination on the part of Nair, who got his Test career off to a disappointing start after getting involved in a mix-up with his skipper Virat Kohli in the third Test at Mohali. The Karnataka boy, playing his third Test, having made his debut in this series only at Mohali, smashed 32 fours and four sixes in his historic innings. Nair, who plays for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL), scored at a healthy rate---his strike-rate of 79.52 is the third-fastest among triple-centurions. When asked as to how he compartmentalizes his game from one format to the other, the 25-year-old batsman said, "My game doesn't change much. It's just the mental approach that changes. In Test matches, you obviously have a lot more time to get set and play big. So, I don't think the approach doesn't change. I don't play any different shorts in any other format. I just play the same way." Nair's score is the highest ever by an Indian against England in Tests. It is also the highest score by an Indian batting at the No. 5 slot, surpassing MS Dhoni's 224 vs Australia in 2013. Nair's 300 is now the fifth highest individual score Test score by an Indian batsman. Sehwag's 319 and 300, followed by VVS Laxman's 281 and cricket legend Rahul Dravid's 278 are the best Test scores before. Playing only his third Test, Nair forged two major partnerships ---181 for the sixth wicket with Ravichandran Ashwin (67) and then 138 for the seventh wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (51) ---to take India to their highest Test total. At Stumps on Day 4, England were 12-0 in their second innings with skipper Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings unbeaten at the crease on 3 and 9 respectively. With just one day to go and pitch not deteriorating much, this match seems to be only heading towards a draw. India are already leading the five-match series 3-0 following their comprehensive victories in Mohali, Vizag and Mumbai. (ANI)