Karun Nair’s Sensational IPL Comeback: Smashes 22-Ball Fifty, Targets Jasprit Bumrah
NEW DELHI: In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, Karun Nair marked his long-awaited return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a blistering 22-ball half-century for Delhi Capitals (DC) against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. This explosive knock, his first IPL fifty in seven years, not only powered DC to a fiery start in their chase of 206 but also stole the spotlight with a daring assault on India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah.
The defining moment of Nair’s innings came in the final over of the powerplay, where he unleashed a stunning 18-run over against Bumrah, leaving the crowd roaring and even MI captain Hardik Pandya in awe, applauding from the dugout. Nair’s fearless approach turned the game on its head, placing him among the elite with one of the most expensive overs bowled by Bumrah in IPL history.
DC’s chase began on a shaky note as opener Jake Fraser-McGurk fell to Deepak Chahar off the very first ball. However, Nair, playing his first IPL match since 2022, joined forces with Abishek Porel to stage a remarkable recovery. The duo forged a rapid 50-run partnership within just five overs, with Nair leading the charge with audacious strokeplay. His milestone fifty made him only the second DC batter after Fraser-McGurk to achieve this feat inside the powerplay.
Here’s a look at DC’s fastest powerplay fifties in IPL history:
- 78 (24 balls) – Jake Fraser-McGurk vs MI, 2024
- 50 (20 balls) – Jake Fraser-McGurk vs RR, 2024
- 50 (22 balls) – Karun Nair vs MI, 2025
Facing Bumrah in the sixth over with 32 runs already to his name, Nair went on the offensive. He launched the first ball for a towering six over backward square leg, followed it with a crisp boundary, and then smashed another six over long-off. A couple off the final delivery sealed his 22-ball fifty, etching his name in DC folklore and adding to Bumrah’s rare off-day. This 18-run over ranks among the most expensive against the MI pacer in IPL history, only behind Pat Cummins’ 26-run over in 2022 and DJ Bravo’s 20-run over in 2018.
Nair’s whirlwind innings finally ended in the 12th over when Mitchell Santner dismissed him for a well-made 89 off 40 balls, studded with five sixes and 12 fours. His opening stand with Porel, who scored a steady 33 off 25 balls, yielded a commanding 119-run partnership, laying a solid foundation for DC’s chase.
Earlier in the day, Mumbai Indians posted a competitive 205/5, thanks to a stylish 59 off 33 balls from Tilak Varma, whose signature mid-wicket strokes dazzled the crowd. He found able support in Naman Dhir, who remained unbeaten on 38, ensuring MI crossed the 200-run mark. However, despite Varma’s heroics, it was Nair’s comeback fireworks that became the talk of the town, putting Delhi Capitals firmly in contention to chase down the daunting target.
Most runs scored off Jasprit Bumrah in a single over in IPL history:
- 26 – Pat Cummins (KKR), 2022
- 20 – DJ Bravo (CSK), 2018
- 18 – Karun Nair (DC), 2025
- 17 – Faf du Plessis (CSK), 2021
As the match progresses, all eyes remain on whether DC can capitalize on Nair’s explosive start to seal a memorable victory. For now, the 33-year-old batter, who last played a Test for India in 2017 and famously scored a triple century against England, has reminded everyone of his immense talent and hunger to dominate on the big stage. Could this be the start of a remarkable IPL redemption story for Karun Nair? Only time will tell.