NEW DELHI: Karun Nair announced his IPL comeback in spectacular style with a blistering 22-ball half-century, his first in seven years, powering Delhi Capitals to a flying start against Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.
The highlight of his knock was a stunning assault on Jasprit Bumrah in the final over of the powerplay that brought the crowd to its feet and left even MI skipper Hardik Pandya applauding.
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Chasing 206, DC were jolted early as Jake Fraser-McGurk was dismissed off the first ball by Deepak Chahar. But Nair, playing his first IPL match since 2022, joined Abishek Porel and turned the tide with fearless intent. The pair raced to a fifty-run partnership within five overs, with Nair taking charge.
50-plus runs in overs 1-6 of an IPL match for DC
78 (24) – Jake Fraser McGurk vs MI, 2024
50 (20) – Jake Fraser McGurk vs RR, 2024
50 (22) – Karun Nair vs MI, 2025*
Nair was on 32 when Bumrah returned for his second over in the sixth. He smashed the first ball for a six over backward square leg, followed it with a boundary, and then hammered another six over long-off. A couple off the final ball of the over brought up his milestone — a 22-ball fifty — becoming only the second DC batter after Fraser-McGurk to reach a half-century inside the powerplay.
WATCH:
Earlier, Tilak Varma’s 59 off 33, dominated by his signature mid-wicket strokes, helped MI post 205/5. Naman Dhir supported well with 38 not out. Despite Varma’s heroics, it was Nair’s comeback fireworks that stole the show, putting Delhi firmly in the hunt.
Most runs scored off Bumrah in an over in IPL
26 – Pat Cummins (KKR), 2022
20 – DJ Bravo (CSK), 2018
18 – Karun Nair (DC), 2025*
17 – Faf du Plessis (CSK), 2021
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.
