Nation celebrates Karun Nair's triple ton

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan and several cricketing personalities hailed Karun Nair's landmark innings of 303 not out during the fifth and final Test against England on Monday.

Karnataka middle-order batsman Nair became only the second Indian after former opener Virender Sehwag to slam a triple ton here.

Nair's marathon innings also helped India declare their first innings at a mammoth 759/7 -- their highest against any opponent -- surpassing the previous best of 726/9 declared against Sri Lanka in 2009.

"Congratulations on the historic triple century @karun126! We all are delighted & proud of your remarkable feat," Modi tweeted.

With India leading the series 3-0, the knock was like icing on the cake for them.

Bachchan wrote on Twitter: "KARUN NAIR 303* vs England. This no 'white wash' you 'distempered' them. DISTEMPERED : emotionally or psychologically disturbed !!."

Sehwag, who was the first Indian to score a triple hundred, welcomed the 25-year-old as he became part of the elite club of Indian triple-hundred scorers.

"Yay ! Welcome to the 300 club @karun126. It was very lonely here for the last 12 years 8 months. Wish you the very best Karun. Maza aa gaya," Sehwag wrote.

On Facebook, he wrote: "Nair batted like a Shayar! Full Flow! Welcome to the club. Was really very lonely."

Former Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi wrote: "Club 300's awesome & awfully 'exclusive'..@karun126 hope U realise Many a giant o World Crkt r bereft o this membership! Enjoy/relish it Son!"

"Whoa... Mount Everest Climbed Again. Triple century in only his third Test innings. Unbelievable stuff. Well played, Karun Nair. #INDvENG," former cricketer and now a popular analyst Aakash Chopra said.

"Congratulations to Karnataka's Karun Nair @karun126 for scoring world record maiden triple century," a tweet from CM of Karnataka read.

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar also congratulated Nair. "Aaj hamari Bhartiya team ke khiladi Karun Nair ne 303 run kiye. Main unka Abhinandan karti hun aur puri team ko badhai deti hun (Today our Indian team player Karun Nair scored 303. I congratulate him and the team).

"What a day 4 India at Chepauk. @karun126 heartiest congratulations on this marvelous 300. 2nd Indian to achieve after @virendersehwag @BCCI," BCCI president Anurag Thakur commented.

Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir said: "A brilliantly paced knock by a really talented young batsman! Congratulations @karun126 on a truly splendid knock! #INDvENG."

"What an effort 300?? @karun126 keep rocking..His first test hundred and that's 300 not out. God bless @BCCI #INDvENG looks like 4-0??," veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh tweeted.

--IANS

pur/dg