DC vs MI: Karun Nair smashes Jasprit Bumrah, hits IPL fifty after 7 years-OxBig News Network

Karun Nair announced his return to the Indian Premier League in the most heroic fashion, slamming a blistering 89 off 40, featuring a 22-ball half-century for Delhi Capitals in their clash against Mumbai Indians on April 13. Coming on as an impact sub following the early dismissal of Jake Fraser-McGurk, Nair took on a red-hot MI bowling attack to bring up his first IPL fifty in seven years.

Chasing 206 against MI, DC were dealt a major blow when Fraser-McGurk’s lean patch extended with a golden duck off Ashwani Kumar’s very first ball. Nair came in straightaway as the impact substitute and, after a few sighters, began reflecting his blistering domestic form—but this time on the IPL stage, and against a formidable MI bowling lineup featuring an in-form Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, breakout pacer Ashwani Kumar, and Deepak Chahar.

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With Abhishek Porel holding up the other end, Nair gradually shifted gears and turned on his big-hitting mode. He took on Bumrah for 11 runs in the fourth over and followed it up with 18 runs in the sixth—marking the most runs Bumrah has ever conceded in an IPL over to an Indian batter.

Nair’s assault began with a crisply-timed lofted cover drive, followed by a couple of expertly placed cut shots. In the final over of the powerplay, he truly dominated the world’s best pacer with two sixes and a boundary, sending a clear message that he’s back in business.

“He is reading Jasprit Bumrah like a book,” quipped Harsha Bhogle, who was in awe of Nair’s takedown of Bumrah.

Nair’s brilliance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium came to an end, and quite disappointingly so after getting dismissed by Mitchell Santner in the 12th over of their 206 chase against MI.

Karun Nair’s comeback fifty

Nair’s last 50+ score in the IPL came all the way back in 2018 during his stint with Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), when he scored 54 off 26 against Chennai Super Kings. That knock, however, ended in a losing cause as CSK chased down the target with five wickets to spare.

Nair has been brimming with confidence following a record-breaking Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign for Vidarbha, where he amassed 779 runs in nine matches, including five centuries and a fifty—averaging a mind-boggling 389.50.

His recent form not only raised expectations for his IPL 2025 run after being picked by DC at his base price of Rs 50 lakh, but also reignited conversations about a potential India comeback—should his strong performances continue.