Pawan Negi hopes of a second wind to IPL career

Unperturbed and unflustered. These are the two words that come to mind when you see Pawan Negi training with the RCB squad. Negi failed to live up to his huge price tag of Rs 8.5 crores last year and was subsequently released by Delhi Daredevils ahead of this year’s IPL. Negi went under the hammer again at the IPL auction and that is how he landed with RCB, who procured him for Rs 1 crore.

Negi went under the hammer again at the IPL auction and that is how he landed with RCB, who procured him for Rs 1 crore. The Delhi-born all-rounder has a point to prove this year in the red and black colors of his new franchise.

“I didn’t have a good IPL last year but every player undergoes such phase. I didn’t let my poor performance affect my confidence but instead worked hard on my batting and bowling,” said Negi during RCB’s practice session here at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Monday.

Negi, a left-arm spinner who can hit the long ball with the bat in hand, will get a lot to learn from RCB coach Daniel Vettori who himself was a left-arm spinner. The 24-year old acknowledged that and was already learning the skill of the trade from the Kiwi legend.

“Vettori is my idol and training with him has helped me a lot. He has been working on my bowling grip and line and length for the past couple of days. Here at the Chinnaswamy line and length matters a lot because if you are wayward then you end up giving away too many runs,” Negi explained.

Many cricketing experts were of the opinions that the huge price tag Negi carried in the last year’s IPL eventually got the better of the man. Negi, though, doesn’t sound convinced on that theory.  “I didn’t face any pressure due to the money. Irrespective of the money or the team, I believe in giving my 100 percent,” he said.

Negi has already put the last season behind him where he could muster only 57 runs at a lowly strike rate of 96.61 in 8 games. He picked just the solitary wicket in 9 overs of bowling and had an alarming economy rate of 9.33.

The Delhi-lad is keen to perform much better this season. With the presence of Stuart Binny in the squad, who is also an all-rounder, Negi might have to fight for a place with him.

“There is no competition between us and we encourage each other. If I get a chance to play I will give my best. It is an absolute honour to share the dressing room with such good players. Just by speaking to them, knowing how they get to prepare for a game you can learn so much,” he said.

Pawan Negi has a sound bowling record in T20 cricket. He has picked 51 wickets at 27 runs a piece which includes of a 5-wicket haul, which he got in a Champions League game when he played for the now defunct Chennai Super Kings.

The all-rounder was rewarded for his fine performances with a national call-up last year. Though he got to play just the solitary match – an inconsequential game against lowly UAE in the Asia Cup 2016 – Negi was also a part of India’s World T20 squad. That experience would have worked as a strong catalyst for Pawan Negi.