JOIN USKarnataka completed a historic treble on Sunday by winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Eden Gardens. They had earlier won the Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup.
Describing it as a great milestone, Karnataka skipper R Vinay Kumar said: “The mantra is nothing different. Everyone in our side wants to play for India. Once they have a bigger goal, small things fall in place.”
Karnataka skittled out Railways for a paltry 157 in 47.4 overs and chased down the target with four wickets and seven overs to spare.
Karnataka were in a spot of bother having lost five quick wickets to be 47/5, but youngster Karun Nair’s sparkling 53 not out sealed the chase.
Vinay rated this Karnataka side as one of the best ever. “Every day different players are performing for us. We are not banking on any particular individual. We have been combining well as a side. I think this is one of the best ever (Karnataka) sides.”
The out-of-favour India medium pacer said they would now look to achieve a qudraple of titles by winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 beginning next month.
“Yes, that will be on our mind. But we want to go step by step. We take one match at a time and give our best,” he noted.
The biggest gain for Karnataka has been out-of-favour India batsman Robin Uthappa’s coming to form as the opener has smashed three centuries and one fifty to top the run charts with 536 runs at an average of 76.57.