New Delhi: Karun Nair on Monday became only the second Indian batsman to score a triple hundred in five-day cricket after Virender Sehwag, when he went past the 300-run mark during fourth day's play of the fifth and final Test against England in Chennai.
The 25-year-old, in the process, also became the first Indian to convert a maiden Test century into a triple hundred. But his score of 303 no is still not enough to beat Sehwag's two triple hundreds, 309 against Pakistan in 2004 and 319 against South Africa four years later.
Here's everything you need to know about his 381-ball knock:
At 25 years and 13 days, Nair beat Sehwag's Indian record of youngest Test triple-centurion. Sehwag was 25 years and 160 days in 2004 when he hit 309 against Pakistan in Multan.
Nair's unbeaten 303 is the highest score by an Asian batsman as a maiden Test century. He has also taken fewest innings (3) to hit maiden triple hundred, after Len Hutton, who took nine innings (364 in 1983).
Nair also became the first Indian batting at No 5 or lower to reach 300, and third overall, after Donald Bradman and Michael Clarke.
He is the 26th batsman to hit a triple hundred in Test cricket. The highest individual score, of course, belongs to Brian Lara, who has an unbeaten 400 and another 375, both against England.
Nair was drafted into India squad as a replacement for injured Shikhar Dhawan during the recently concluded New Zealand series.
His scores in the two previous matches were 4 and DNB; 13 and DNB at Mohali and Mumbai respectively against England.
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He produced four century stands, 152 with Parthiv Patel for the first wicket, 161 with KL Rahul for fourth wicket, 181 with R Ashwin for sixth wicket and 138 with Ravindra Jadeja for seventh wicket.
Nair survived plenty of chances. He was dropped on 34 and 217, and England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow missed a stumping chance on 246.
Thanks to his 303 not out and KL Rahul's 199, India posted their highest score, a massive 759/7d. The previous highest was 726/9d against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2009.
Interestingly, in that Mumbai match, Sehwag failed short of scoring his third triple-hundred by seven runs. But his 293 is still India's fourth highest individual score.
This team total is also highest ever against England by any team, and India's highest first-innings deficit overcome against them.
