When 'lucky' Karun Nair cheated death

Nair scored an unbeaten 303 on Monday 

On Monday, the whole of India remained glued to their televisions as Karun Nair completed his historic triple century against England in the ongoing fifth Test at Chennai. But while he is basking in the glory he is lucky to be alive as a boat accident could have killed him in July, earlier this year.

Nair was in a boat with 100 others when it capsized in river Pampa in Kerala five months back.

The accident occurred as Nair along with some others were celebrating a temple festival, "Valla Sadya', a celebration of the Sree Parthasarathy Temple, near his hometown of Chenganoor in Alapuzha district.

It was a snake boat he was travelling in and it turned over with 100 others on board. Reportedly, two youth went missing from the boat.

The incident occurred at around 11.45 am on July 17 as the boat was about to reach the temple for the offerings and the rituals. However, swift action from the locals and rescue boats helped save the lives of Nair and some others.

An official from the Aranmula Police station had then confirmed that Nair was in the boat.

"The boat capsized and immediate rescue services was undertaken and managed to rescue all passengers, while two are still missing," the official was quoted by IANS. 

Nair’s mother who was at Chepauk to witness the historic knock from her son also revealed that Karun was born premature and "the doctors advised us that he should always be made to exert and we did that and he learned cricket by playing on the streets right from a very early age".

Speaking about the incident, Nair, who does not even know how to swim told the official broadcasters,"I didn't know how to swim. People there rescued me and I was lucky to live again."

Describing the unconquered knock of 303, Nair said,”This is the best knock I've played in my life. There were many situations in the middle when I had to play differently, with (KL) Rahul, (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra Jadeja) Jaddu. I have to thank them for supporting me, egging me on."

“The first hundred is always important and I think when I got the first hundred, I didn't feel any pressure. I was just playing my shots after that," said Karnataka youngster.

Courtesy of the special knock, Nair has now become only the second batsman in India to get to a triple ton in Tests after Virender Sehwag.