Virender Sehwag welcomes Karun Nair to exclusive 300-run club in trademark style

Nair became only the second Indian batsman to score a triple hundred in five-day cricket, when he went past the 300-run mark during fourth day's play of the fifth and final Test against England in Chennai.

New Delhi: A euphoric Virender Sehwag on Monday welcomed Karun Nair to the exclusive 300-club with a heartfelt message, saying he was very lonely there for the last 12 years and eight months.

Nair, 25, became only the second Indian batsman to score a triple hundred in five-day cricket, when he went past the 300-run mark during fourth day's play of the fifth and final Test against England in Chennai.

In the process, the Karnataka batsman also became the first Indian to convert a maiden Test century into a triple hundred. He was playing in his third Test, with a previous best score of 13 runs against England in Mumbai during the fourth match of the current tour.

The historic moment came in the 191st over, after some waiting, when Nair played a cut shot off the fourth ball of the over, bowled by Adil Rashid, past cover to reach the feat with a boundary.

India captain Virat Kohli declared the innings the moment Nair crossed the 300-run mark. Nair remained unbeaten on 303 runs and his knock was studded with 32 boundaries and four sixes.

Sehwag, who scored two triple hundreds, was probably the first to wish Nair on his brilliant achievement.

Yay ! Welcome to the 300 club @karun126 .
It was very lonely here for the last 12 years 8 months.
Wish you the very best Karun.Maza aa gaya! — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 19, 2016

Regarded as one of the most destructive and free-flowing batsmen of all time, Sehwag first achieved the feat against Pakistan in Multan in 2004. He scored 309 off 375 balls which included 39 fours and six sixes.

The former opener repeated the feat four years later in Chennai, against South Africa with an epic 304-ball 319-run knock. During his 530 minutes batting, Sehwag hit 42 fours and five sixes.

But today, it was all about Nair.

India, in reply to England's first innings total of 477, declared at 759/7d to take a 282-run lead with just under 10 overs' play left in the day.

India have already won the five-match series, thanks to victories in Visakhapatnam, Mohali and Mumbai. The series opener in Rajkot ended in a high-scoring draw.