IPL 2016: Karun Nair glad to have stayed unbeaten in pressure situation

Nair blasted 83 off 59 balls for DD in a must-win game

Delhi Daredevils (DD) batsman Karun Nair said that his knock of 83 off 59 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday is one of the best he has ever played and that he is glad to have seen his side through in a pressure situation. DD beat SRH by six wickets in Raipur in a must-win game for them to stay alive in the competition, as Nair recorded his highest ever IPL score.

Nair, whose knock was laced with three sixes and eight fours, said that he was delighted to have been instrumental in the team's victory.

"It's one of the best knocks I have played. I was able to pull the team through and stay till the end, and remain unbeaten in a pressure situation, in a must win game. I am really happy with what I was able to contribute," the 24-year-old said.

David Warner single-handedly helped SRH put on a total of 158 runs on the board, with his 56-ball 73. Though DD lost Quinton de Kock in their second over, Nair and Rishabh Pant put on a 73-run partnership and played a pacy innings to chase down the target.

"Piece of brilliance on the field always lifts the side," said Nair after the game. "When we are fielding, 11 guys are fielding, so I think the only time you can lift all of them together is only by exceptional fielding."

Nair said that the pitch was good to bat on, adding that he was lucky that everything he hit went in the gaps. On being asked what the conversations between him and Pant were, he said, "I was just telling him to play his natural game. I knew that if the ball is there to be hit he will hit it. I was just telling him to play positively and run hard between the wickets. He played really well as well. It was unfortunate that he got out at that stage."

Though Pant was run out for 32 after Bhuvaneshwar Kumar's brilliant throw from the deep, Nair continued to bat undeterred, and led his team to victory.

SRH, who did not have the services of their veteran pacer Ashish Nehra, also missed their skipper Warner for the first nine overs of the second innings, as he had stayed off after having batted till the 16^th over.

With six teams in contention to make it to the playoffs, SRH and DD look to win their last match of the group stage against Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively.