Former cricket player turned commentator Aakash Chopra feels Karun Nair hasn't "made the most of the second chance that cricket has given him" after the Delhi Capitals' 14-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Karun's December 10, 2022, tweet, "Dear cricket, give me one more chance," came to life during the thrilling match between the Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Karun's scorching 89 from 40 deliveries in Delhi's chase of a formidable 206-run target enthralled the crowd and left past cricket players in awe of his prolific batting form.
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However, Karun's form has disappeared since he began to show promise. Following his fine performance, the 32-year-old has lost his spark and only managed 65 runs in the last five innings.
Chopra spoke candidly about Karun's performance in the current 18th season of the lucrative league while analyzing DC's unsuccessful attempt to chase a 205-run target against the Knight Riders.
"Karun Nair hasn't made the most of the second chance that cricket has given him. This was a kind of run chase where the eight overs from Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy had to be negotiated. I think KL Rahul's run-out was absolutely critical. After that, it was their last opportunity. When Tristan Stubbs didn't contribute, it felt like Delhi was going to fall short," Chopra said on JioHotstar.
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"Delhi Capitals had their chances to seal the deal, but it wasn't just about Faf du Plessis. Someone else had to bat alongside him and take the game deep to build pressure. They didn't start well," he added.
The main man responsible for Delhi's demise was Sunil Narine, KKR’s best spinner. With the help of captain Axar Patel and Faf du Plessis, who restrained their aggression to keep the reigning champions at bay, DC were cruising in the chase. Delhi maintained the lead thanks to the 76-run partnership, but once Axar lost his valuable wicket to the always potent Narine, the tide turned entirely in Kolkata's favor.
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