<div>Young Karun Nair today announced his arrival at the world stage with an unforgettable triple ton (303 not out) as India broke a deluge of records en route their highest ever Test total of 759 for 7 against England on the penultimate day of the fifth and final match here.<br /><br />It was a day that solely belongs to the 25-year-old Karun, who become the second Indian batsman after the legendary Virender Sehwag (twice) to hit a triple hundred in Test match cricket.<br /><br />During his marathon 381-ball innings, Karun hit 32 boundaries and four huge sixes as India took a huge lead of 282 runs before England finished the day at 12 for no loss.<br /><br />With 90 overs remaining on the final day and a reasonably good track to bat on, England will fancy their chance of at least saving the Test.<br /><br />Karun, who has been touted as one of the next big hopes in Indian cricket for his prolific scores in domestic cricket, showed just why he is highly rated.<br /><br />Karun scored 232 runs in a single day and enthralled a select Chepauk crowd with shots all around the ground. The best part was his ability to use the entire 360 degree of the ground hitting his shots.<br /><br />Equally adept at front and backfoot play, he was quick to use his feet against England spinners with their premier tweaker Moeen Ali returning with dismal figures of 1/190 in 41 overs while Liam Dawson (2/129) and Adil Rashid (1/153) also proved to be expensive.<br /><br />Call it poetic justice, it was another identical loopy leg break from Adil Rashid -- a throwback to what he had exactly bowled to KL Rahul yesterday when the opener was on the cusp of double hundred.<br /><br />Rahul was unlucky but Karun's lazy cut shot escaped a diving Alastair Cook as the entire Indian dressing room led by captain Virat Kohli gave Karun a standing ovation.<br /><br />It is an irony that this chance that Karun got was a lucky one considering he was not in line for a Test debut during the series.<br /><br />He was picked for the series after Rohit Sharma suffered hamstring injury.<br /><br />Then a freak injury for Rahul opened the Test 'door' for Karun in Mohali where he was unfortunately run-out.<br /><br />Once Rahul was fit in Mumbai, Karun was expected to sit out but this time it was Ajinkya Rahane, who was ruled out due to a finger fracture.<br /><br />Karun didn't get too many there also but Rahane being ousted meant that he got another opportunity.<br /><br />Those who have seen him bat in domestic cricket were always sure that he would succeed as no one Indian player has scored more runs in first-class cricket in past three seasons (total) than the stockily built Karun.<br /><br />The triple hundred will surely increase positive 'problems' for Kohli and coach Anil Kumble as they will have to take a tough call once a fit Rahane is back in the scheme of things against Australia.</div>
<div>Young Karun Nair today announced his arrival at the world stage with an unforgettable triple ton (303 not out) as India broke a deluge of records en route their highest ever Test total of 759 for 7 against England on the penultimate day of the fifth and final match here.<br /><br />It was a day that solely belongs to the 25-year-old Karun, who become the second Indian batsman after the legendary Virender Sehwag (twice) to hit a triple hundred in Test match cricket.<br /><br />During his marathon 381-ball innings, Karun hit 32 boundaries and four huge sixes as India took a huge lead of 282 runs before England finished the day at 12 for no loss.<br /><br />With 90 overs remaining on the final day and a reasonably good track to bat on, England will fancy their chance of at least saving the Test.<br /><br />Karun, who has been touted as one of the next big hopes in Indian cricket for his prolific scores in domestic cricket, showed just why he is highly rated.<br /><br />Karun scored 232 runs in a single day and enthralled a select Chepauk crowd with shots all around the ground. The best part was his ability to use the entire 360 degree of the ground hitting his shots.<br /><br />Equally adept at front and backfoot play, he was quick to use his feet against England spinners with their premier tweaker Moeen Ali returning with dismal figures of 1/190 in 41 overs while Liam Dawson (2/129) and Adil Rashid (1/153) also proved to be expensive.<br /><br />Call it poetic justice, it was another identical loopy leg break from Adil Rashid -- a throwback to what he had exactly bowled to KL Rahul yesterday when the opener was on the cusp of double hundred.<br /><br />Rahul was unlucky but Karun's lazy cut shot escaped a diving Alastair Cook as the entire Indian dressing room led by captain Virat Kohli gave Karun a standing ovation.<br /><br />It is an irony that this chance that Karun got was a lucky one considering he was not in line for a Test debut during the series.<br /><br />He was picked for the series after Rohit Sharma suffered hamstring injury.<br /><br />Then a freak injury for Rahul opened the Test 'door' for Karun in Mohali where he was unfortunately run-out.<br /><br />Once Rahul was fit in Mumbai, Karun was expected to sit out but this time it was Ajinkya Rahane, who was ruled out due to a finger fracture.<br /><br />Karun didn't get too many there also but Rahane being ousted meant that he got another opportunity.<br /><br />Those who have seen him bat in domestic cricket were always sure that he would succeed as no one Indian player has scored more runs in first-class cricket in past three seasons (total) than the stockily built Karun.<br /><br />The triple hundred will surely increase positive 'problems' for Kohli and coach Anil Kumble as they will have to take a tough call once a fit Rahane is back in the scheme of things against Australia.</div>