'Targeted a run-a-ball innings' - Karun

Karun Nair has been a floater in the Rajasthan Royals batting line-up and had had a highest score of 25 prior coming into their home game against Delhi Daredevils in Mumbai. But pushed up to No. 3 for the first time in the season, he produced a rapid, match-winning half-century that he credited to taking the time to play himself in.

"I told myself at the beginning of the innings I should just play run-a-ball and look for the odd boundary," he told iplt20.com, "I gave myself time in the first ten to fifteen balls and from then on I decided to go for the big shots. I am not a powerful hitter, but I can hit the ball for a six. A six doesn't necessarily need to go out of the ground, it has to just clear the fence and I think I can do it easily."

His 61 off 38 balls was part of a 113-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane at a run-rate of 9.82. Nair said the gameplan had been to take the game deep and set things up for their finishers.

"We spoke about running hard between the wickets and then getting the odd boundary and play normal cricket shots," Nair said. "We wanted to take the game as deep as possible because we have good hitters in our side. We did that really well. The plan was to get ten runs in every over after the time out and target 170 at the end of 20 overs. Anything more than that was always meant to be a bonus. One boundary an over was what was discussed in the meeting."

His team-mate James Faulkner also had a successful outing, picking up 2 for 22 in conditions that helped fast bowlers at Brabourne stadium, where Royals had had a camp prior to the start of the tournament.

"There was a fair bit of assistance with the new ball and you had to bash it into the wicket. There was a fair bit of seam. But that is T20 cricket; you get flat tracks where you don't get much swing or spin, but then you have tracks that turn a long way. This one had a bit of seam tonight and had good carry which was great. I think that is what everyone likes, different challenges every single time."

Faulkner was making a return to the XI after missing the game against Mumbai Indians last Friday and spoke about the demands on an foreign player in the IPL.

"I missed out on the last game since we decided to give Rusty Theron a go," Faulkner said. "Tonight I came back into the side. That is how the format works. There is always a lot of class sitting on the bench.

"It doesn't matter if you are there from the start or join halfway through, you are always expected to put up your best. You are an overseas player at the end of the day, and looked at to bring something unique to the table. Once you play international cricket, there is always going to be expectations from you in any Twenty20 league. Every overseas player is used to that."