Karnataka Eye Fifth Vijay Hazare Trophy vs Vidarbha, Ex-Player In The Way Of Glory

Karun Nair's strong run in the tournament has been such that Karnataka's primary strategy will be to keep the big-scoring Vidarbha captain quiet in their quest to bag a record-equalling fifth Vijay Hazare Trophy title here on Saturday. Nair has notched up scores of 112, 44, 163, 111, 112, 122 and 88, all but one unbeaten knocks, in his last seven batting innings and his tally now stands at 752 runs at a stunning average of 752. It is the most by a captain in the history of Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), surpassing Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad's tally of 660 runs made during the 2022-23 season.

Nair also has a chance to overhaul Narayan Jagadeesan's record for the most runs scored in a single season of the VHT -- 830 runs during the 2022-23 edition.

Another heavy score could also further brighten Nair's chances of finding a place in India's one-day side, at least for the home ODIs against England.

However, Karnataka will be eager not to concede that 79 runs (that would surpass Jagadeesan) to Nair as they know that the 33-year-old can hurt them badly if he is allowed to make a start.

Nair also received splendid support from his top-order colleagues Dhruv Shorey and Yash Rathod, with 384 runs apiece, and Karnataka would want to dismiss the troika at the earliest to have a crack at Vidarbha's untested middle and lower middle-order batters.

Karnataka have the ammunition to do that in the metronomical pacer Vasuki Koushik (15 wickets) and impressive left-arm pacer Abhilash Shetty (14 wickets).

In Shreyas Gopal (18 wickets), they have a clever leg-spinner who can keep the batters in check with subtle variations.

India pacer Prasidh Krishna adds more muscle to their attack.

But the real strength of Karnataka lies in their