Ranji Trophy 2017/18: Karun Nair Pulls Off Alvaro Morata's Celebration After Century In Ranji Tie

The discarded team India batsman, Karun Nair, highlighted the second day of the Ranji Trophy semi-final between Karnataka and Vidarbha where he stood alone at one point in time for his side.

CM Gautam well supported him, but it was Nair who shone for his side. Everything was normally going for Nair and Karnataka until he completed his century, which followed a surprising celebration. He pulled off an Alvaro Morata’s celebration, a Chelsea striker, a reason for which he revealed later in the evening,

“It’s just that everyone was telling me I don’t do anything (after reaching a milestone). I always just lift my bat, so everyone was asking me to do something different. I saw that celebration in football and just thought I would do it,” Nair said after the end of day’s play.

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Karnataka was at a score of 21/3 in reply to Vidarbha’s score of 185. It seemed like the R Vinay Kumar-led side might skittle out soon, but Nair came to team’s rescue. In the end, Karnataka posted a total of 301 and also gained a crucial first innings lead.

Vidarbha is still behind Karnataka’s first innings score and has a tough task to first clear off the lead and then to set a target for the side. Karnataka holds an upper hand in the game at the moment.

Talking of Nair, he has had a special season so far. After being dropped from the Indian team for the tour of Sri Lanka, he was sent to South Africa as the captain of India A. There, he disappointed and could not do well with the bat.

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In the ongoing season, though, Nair has scored 582 runs including three centuries. He is doing his bit to make a comeback in the Test side but at present, Rohit Sharma – whom he replaced – has taken over him for that spot in the team.

Nair, despite scoring runs, was not given a longer rope in the previous season. Firstly, he got dropped from the side just after scoring a triple century last year. Later, he played three Tests against Australia with no success but was surprisingly ruled out from the squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, where Rohit Sharma made his comeback.

Surely, Nair will look to draw the attention of selectors towards him with more such knocks in the ongoing season to make a comeback to the Indian team.

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