Karun Nair scores triple hundred at Chepauk

Chennai: Karun Nair became the second Indian batsman after Virender Sehwag to score a triple hundred in Test cricket. The fourth day of the fifth Test against England in Chennai turned out to be a sleeping beauty and Indian batsmen feasted on it, with Nair, reaching the rare landmark in his third Test match for India.

Nair's quick runs helped India build a big first innings lead of 282 runs as India declared at 759/7. Scoring his triple hundred off 381 balls, Nair was also the quickest in Test history in terms of innings taken to score a triple century. Len Hutton did so in his ninth innings and Nair achieved the landmark in only his third innings.

Nair notched up his maiden Test hundred in the morning, while at tea, he was unbeaten on 195. The 25-year-old came to the crease when Virat Kohli was out with India 211/3.

The Karnataka batsman was consistent at the domestic level. In 37 first-class games, Nair scored 2,845 runs at an average of 52.68. He had a good 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season, helped Karnataka win the title after 15 years, by scoring hundreds in the quarterfinal and semifinal. In the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy final, Nair again played a vital part, scoring a triple ton and helping Karnataka retain the title.

The success of Nair will pose problems for the selectors once the injured Rohit Sharma and Rahane return to the squad.