Nair: '300 never took place in my mind'

"Once after I crossed 250, the team management had certain plans of going after the bowling and declaring. So within the space of five overs I got to 280-285, that's when I started thinking and Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) egged me on," said Karun Nair after the fourth day's play.

Karun Nair's unbeaten triple hundred helped India post its highest ever Test total.

Pride and fatigue coursed through triple-centurion Karun Nair, as he sat down to address the press here on a Monday, which he will never forget.

Listen to Karun Nair's interaction with the media

Excerpts: -

The 300 vision

I think it never took place in my mind. Once after I crossed 250, the team management had certain plans of going after the bowling and declaring. So within the space of five overs I got to 280-285, that's when I started thinking and Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) egged me on. The Chennai heat does get to you. It is just an amazing moment in my career to get such a milestone.

Shifting gears

After the 100, the pressure is off. You just go out there and play the shots that you can and you just look to hit the gaps. Once you cross 150, it is about playing freely and expressing yourself.

Pressure before the game

I got run out in the first game and didn't get many runs in the second innings but there was no extra pressure that I put on myself. So I wouldn't say that I was feeling any pressure.

Nervous nineties

You can't be thinking negative at that point. You just have to watch the ball and just get over that moment. You just have to feel that moment, being there.

Sweeping his way to glory

I have played the sweep shot all my life. You have to work hard at it. It is my go-to shot whenever I need some boundaries. If the gaps are open for it, I go for it.

His buddy K. L. Rahul

We started playing cricket together. At every stage, if he has gone ahead I have caught up. Or if I have gone ahead, he has caught up. I feel bad for him that he didn’t get the double hundred but I think he will get one very soon.

Expressing emotions

There are a lot of things that go in my head that I want to do but at that moment it just doesn’t come out. I think I will just have to get more hundreds for me to show emotion.

Pitching it right

The pitch has been good all four days. It is slowly deteriorating. And there are footmarks so I think we just have to bowl well and get the wickets.

Wilting England

They say make hay when the sun shines. We are 3-0 up, they are you know already out of the game. I am just happy that I got the runs and made the most of it.