'It really was a perfect night for me. I never thought I would get to play the game in the first place. But looking at the pitch, coach (Stephen Fleming) decided to field me and I am glad I could repay the faith.'
Even in his wildest dreams Pawan Negi may not have thought he would take a five-for on a stage like the Champions League T20 final. So, naturally, after that stellar effort against Kolkata Knight Riders, he was ecstatic.
He flummoxed the likes of Robin Uthappa, Jacques Kallis and Ryan ten Doeschate with his flight and guile on the way to a memorable spell in only his second match in the tournament as Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets.
"It really was a perfect night for me. I never thought I would get to play the game in the first place. But looking at the pitch, coach (Stephen Fleming) decided to field me and I am glad I could repay the faith," the Delhi-born Negi said after returning home from Bangalore.
It was a remarkable showing by the 21-year-old medium pacer-turned spinner, considering the limited opportunities he got during Chennai's campaign, in the presence of established Indian tweakers Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.
"There are not a lot of people in Delhi with whom I can discuss my bowling. That way spending time with Jaddubhai (Jadeja) and Ashwinbhai in the nets proved quite helpful, even when I was not getting a game. And anyway I was told by coach, Fleming, to be ready for my chance. He said it could come any time," said the diminutive bowler, who has played just two first-class games for Delhi since his debut in 2011.
Though he got a taste of Twenty20 cricket in the Indian Premier League with Delhi Daredevils, Negi said spending a season with the mighty Super Kings lifted his game leaps and bounds.
"Initially I was nervous with Dhonibhai, Fleming, Andy Bichel (bowling coach) and other big names around. But now I am okay with the dressing room atmosphere; it feels like family. Overall, it has been a thorough learning experience.
“You don't get to bowl to top-quality batsmen that often in domestic cricket as you do in IPL and CLT20," he said.
While Jadeja and Ashwin are known to use a lot of variations, Negi keeps it simple. He made it a point to bowl slower through the air and fox the batsmen in the flight.
"That is how I have always liked to bowl and will continue to do so. The pitch in the final offered assistance and things went as per plan," said Negi, pointing to his favourite dismissal of the day, having Uthappa stranded outside the crease.
Negi, who was adjudged Man of the Match in the final following his haul of 5 for 22, still trains with childhood coach, Ajay Verma, but for the bowling part, he relies mostly on his role model, Vettori.
"I am yet to meet him but I constantly watch his videos on the Internet. That itself has taught me so much."
Negi knows the fame and moolah lies in the shortest format, but he is determined to prove his worth in the Ranji Trophy too.
"Hopefully, I will get to play more of four-day cricket. Doing well for Delhi is my immediate target and if I do well in the four-day and 50-over format, there is a better chance of getting a national call-up.
"Having said that, I am in no hurry and ready to work my way up the ladder," concluded Negi, who was advised by Verma in his Under-15 days to turn to spin from medium pace and compliment his batting.
