IPL 2026: R Ashwin rallies behind Karun Nair after costly drops, says 'I’m not making excuses'

Punjab Kings pulled off the highest successful run chase in IPL history, hunting down 265 against Delhi Capitals in Delhi. But for Karun Nair, it was a night of missed opportunities and visible heartbreak. Nair endured a difficult outing in the field, dropping Shreyas Iyer twice in the space of four balls, errors that proved decisive in the context of the game.

The first chance came on the final ball of the 15th over, when Vipraj Nigam induced a mistimed lofted shot from Iyer towards long-off. Nair settled under it comfortably but spilled what looked like a straightforward catch. The reaction said it all, Nigam dropped to the ground in disbelief, knowing a crucial opportunity had gone begging.

Just four balls later, Iyer got another lifeline. On the second ball of the 16th over, Kuldeep Yadav deceived him with a wrong’un. The ball took the top edge and ballooned towards long-on, but Nair, once again positioned perfectly, failed to hold on.

After the second drop, Nair appeared visibly shaken, almost on the verge of tears, as Delhi let the game slip further away. Iyer made the most of his reprieves, playing a match-winning knock of 71 off 36 balls to guide Punjab Kings home with seven balls to spare, sealing a historic chase.

Despite the costly errors, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin came out in strong support of Nair, offering a measured perspective on his struggles.

Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said:
"Let me tell you about Karun Nair’s situation. When a player knows they aren't in the playing XI, they usually find out at least a day in advance. Players who are dropped or rested often hit the gym or do extra training on match days to stay fit, knowing the next day might be a travel day with late-night flights and limited practice time. So, maybe Karun Nair was mentally "switched off" though that’s probably the wrong word, but he might have been fatigued from training. I’m not making excuses, but for a substitute to suddenly step into the intensity of the game, these things can happen,'' Ashwin said.

''He dropped one catch, and his confidence just plummeted after that. Karun is actually a fabulous fielder; I’ve seen him be very reliable in first-class and red-ball cricket, especially in close-in positions. I’ve rarely seen him drop catches like that, but today was just one of those days," Ashwin added.

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