February 2nd, 2016 | by
admin
With the 3-0 victory in the T20I series in Australia, Team India have kick-started their preparations for the ICC World Twenty20, 2016 on the perfect note. They will continue their pursuit to Twenty20 excellence with the three-match T20I home series against Sri Lanka.
In an attempt to find the perfect team combination for the format, India are trying out a bunch of all-rounders – some upcoming youngsters and a few seasoned campaigners. The latest to get a nod is Pawan Negi, a left-arm spinner and a hard-hitting batsman from Delhi.
Negi is coming off a successful run in the limited overs leg of India’s domestic season, with 173 runs and six wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (India’s domestic Twenty20 tournament) and a combo of 170 runs and nine wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (India’s domestic one-day tournament).
The 23-year old has also had a fair share of exposure in the Indian Premier League, representing Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings over the years.
Speaking about his maiden India call-up with BCCI.TV, the all-rounder credited the time spent with the likes of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and R Ashwin in the IPL for the development of his game sense and growth as an all-rounder.
You have had a good domestic limited overs season. This call-up is the culmination of that.
It was a bit surprising for me to receive that call. I wasn’t expecting it at this point of time with the ICC World Twenty20 so close. With the Indian team doing so well in the T20Is in Australia, it seems like a settled team with the right combination. There are also quite a few all-rounders in the team now. So, I didn’t expect there to be a place for someone new in the squad. However, I was hoping to get this chance since I have been doing well at the domestic level. I just didn’t expect to get it so soon.
Does making the World Twenty20 squad seem like a realistic aim now?
Yes, it is hard not to think about it now. If I do get a chance in the Sri Lanka series and I perform well, there is a hope for me to make the squad for the World Twenty20. Just being with the team during such big tournament would be a massive opportunity for me.
You have played under MS Dhoni’s captaincy in the IPL. What role has he played in your development as a cricketer?
He taught me a lot in terms of reading the match situation and playing accordingly. I have been fortunate to bat with him in the 2015 IPL, and his guidance from the other end led to my good performance with the bat. Once I was batting with him and I played three dot balls. After the over he came up to me and told me to bat freely and back my attacking instincts. That gave me the confidence to add those quick runs in the slog overs.
Even when I bowled he kept telling me how to read the batsman and match situation. As a young bowler you sometimes lose your confidence when you go for runs. But Dhoni bhai would encourage me during those times. That took the pressure off me and I could deliver for the team. I carried that into the domestic season and did well.
How do you practise for bowling in different phases of an innings?
I try to simulate match situations in the nets – the field placement in the powerplay overs and middle overs – and how I need to bowl according to that. I do the same while batting as well; try to bat keeping the possible field in mind and hit the ball where I want to hit. I set a target in my mind in terms of runs required in certain number of balls, and try to achieve it without playing any rash shots.
As a finisher you have the licence to hit big shots. But sometimes, you need to play steady cricket and pace your innings. How have you developed that?
Raina bhai has been very helpful in this regards. I have had many chats with him about this and he has given me some very good inputs drawn from his own experience. I have learnt a lot about pacing the innings and playing your stroke according to the match situation from him. I try to adapt the two mindsets while batting in the nets and look to implement the same in a match.
Do you consider yourself more of a bowler or give equal weight to both bowling and batting?
I am primarily a left-arm spinner, although I place equal importance to batting in the nets. It helps me think about the game from both perspectives and hence, read the game better.
What have your interactions with R Ashwin been like?
I have had many interactions with him while bowling together in the nets. He would guide me as to when to bowl which delivery and to what kind of batsman. He has had a lot of experience in bowling in the powerplay, middle overs and in the death, and he gave me a lot of tips of how to go about it. He gave me some crucial inputs like you can bowl a few yorkers in the death overs and on turning pitches you can bowl slower, which have helped me well.
source
IPL player auction – New faces and where they cou... February 17th, 2017
Kohli unveiled as Wisden cover star February 3rd, 2017