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Dhoni is a bowler’s captain: Negi
17 May, 2015
Dhoni is a bowler’s captain: Negi
16 May, 2015
Gaining confidence from the captain’s faith in his abilities and being given the new-ball for the first time in the Pepsi IPL 2015, Pawan Negi helped set up the match in Chennai Super Kings favour in Mohali. The young spinner’s efforts of two for 25 helped the team claim pole position in the points table as the tournament gears towards the Playoffs.
Negi, in a chat with iplt20.com, talked about learning from the many international players in the team and being motivated to put up a performance to match the team’s standards.
Excerpts from the interview:
What is the briefing from the captain when you were handed the ball for the first over and how much confidence do you gain from that?
The confidence actually is from the way our team is and knowing who the captain is. There is not that much pressure on us. Our team is like a family and if we play our first match we feel so comfortable amongst everyone, it feels good. Today for the first time in the IPL I bowled with the new ball so I was a bit nervous. But since I had the captain’s support, there wasn’t that much nervousness.
How had you prepared to bowl with the new-ball?
When the captain had told me that I will be bowling the first ball I was a bit nervous. But before we started to bowl he had told me to bowl as I bowl when I am bowling the third-fourth over. He said, ‘You don’t have to experiment and just bowl normally.’
Whether it is the first over or the last, if you are bowling in the right areas it is difficult for the batsman to hit you.
What was it like when the captain gave you the ball in a crucial 19th over while defending against Mumbai Indians? How does it feel with the kind confidence he has shown in you?
It feels good. But I do feel a bit of pressure since there are about 10 international players in the team and it is a big thing to be playing amongst them. So there is that pressure to be able to perform on par with them and do well with the team.
How do you cope?
I tell myself that I have to bowl the way I would normally bowl and not try to do anything extra.
MS Dhoni is a bowler’s captain in many ways. What is your take on that?
Everyone knows that he is a great captain. He is good for the bowlers. He knows who needs to do what, in which situation, and what kind of fields to set. He’s trusted me and I am happy that I was able to deliver.
Talk us through Wriddhiman Saha and David Miller’s wickets. How had you planned for two of KXIP’s better batsmen this season?
When I was bowling with the new ball it was about bowling wicket to wicket and not experimenting. My effort was to draw the batsman into playing a shot and get the wicket. And for Miller, we knew that he goes for the big hits; so the idea was to try and stop him (from doing that). We knew if we could force him to playing shots, then he would get out himself.
Was the ball turning?
Yes, there was good turn in the wicket.
What have you learnt from sharing the dressing room with the other spinners like R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja?
Both of them are very good spinners and I learn from constantly interacting with them, especially in the nets. And in the match too they help me with advises in different situations. So I get to learn from all of them a lot.
