Pawan Negi looks to turn it around

Bengaluru: The latest all-rounder to enter the fray for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pawan Negi, is striving to put behind his sordid IPL-9 season with the Delhi Daredevils and focus his energies on personal improvement with his new side.

 The 23-year-old was among the most high-profile releases ahead of the upcoming edition, after being bought by the Daredevils in the previous auction for a whopping Rs 8.5 crore. A great many things were expected of Negi, and while he disagrees with the notion that the price tag got to him last year, he only scored 57 and bowled just nine overs (conceding 84 runs) in eight matches for the capital side.

A serious letdown for some one priced so high.

 But the lower order batsman wasn’t willing to let the past play on his psyche and looked to derive confidence from a top-class Challengers unit. “It feels really nice to be here. There are world-class players, and the more I stay with them I will get learn much more, and if I get a chance to play I will try my best to give a hundred percent on the field.

 “I did not have a very good season last year; all players go through that phase. After that, during practice, I tried to concentrate more, work out the areas where I was going wrong and improved on all the aspects of my game. I think the most that I have improved upon is the mental aspect of my game,” the Delhi lad said on Monday.

 Purchased for Rs 1 crore this time around, the left-arm spinner will look to be an asset in the bowling department for a side that has failed on many an occasion to defend large targets in the quest for their maiden title.

“I have been speaking with Daniel Vettori a lot over the past few days. He has helped me a lot with not just bowling, all other aspects as well. He has been idol for a very long time, and being a left-arm spinner he is probably the best person to help me. He explained to me about the bowling grip, and the lines to bowl,” he noted.