Unsung hero of Indian cricket: From a rare Test triple hundred to oblivion

Scoring a triple hundred in one innings of a Test match is a very rare and massive feat. Very few cricketers have been able to achieve the feat even in world cricket.

Meet Indian cricketer Karun Nair who has scored 303 in a single innings, matching up with former explosive opener Virender Sehwag.

Nair was termed as one of the rising stars of cricket a decade ago when he made his debut in the Ranji Trophy for Karnataka’s team and played a major part in the team’s victory in the 2013-2014 season.

After performing brilliantly in domestic cricket, Nair made history when he started his international cricket career as part of Team India’s squad, playing England vs India Test match in Mohali. He created a record by scoring 303 not out in the innings and in the process became the second Indian cricketer to score a triple century in a single innings.

Nair was only the third cricketer to achieve this feat across the world at the time. He was only the second Indian player to do so. Before him, Sehwag had scored a triple century twice - 309 against Pakistan in Multan in 2004 and 319 against South Africa in Chennai in 2008.

Nair also became the quickest batsman to hit a maiden triple-hundred in Test cricket history in terms of the number of matches played. However, he was out of India’s Test and ODI squads without any substantial reason and soon went into oblivion. 

Nair is still part of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL). He was named as a replacement for KL Rahul after his injury in IPL 2023. He was included in the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) squad.