"Don't want crores, only good IPL scores"

New Delhi: People would just throw curious glances at him, and then throw that question at the first opportunity: Aren’t you that guy who got Rs 8.5 crores in IPL auction? Pawan Negi was a walking price tag --- all of 2016. It was also a year where he made his international debut, was elevated straight as a World Cupper --- he was part of WorldT20 squad -- but it was that sort of a year which he would like to forget. Forever. So what is Pawan Negi’s New Year resolution? “Erase all that happened and start 2017 afresh. I just want to play cricket, work hard and make an impact. I am not bothered how much I get in the IPL auction, it doesn’t matter trust me. It’s all about getting a team where I can get to play and express myself as an all-rounder,” he says. “I want to show everyone what I am really worth as a cricketer and not judge me by my price tag. I don’t want 8.5 crores, just give me all IPL games to play and I would be happy.” Negi has been subsequently released by Delhi Daredevils and will now go under the auction table again in a month’s time. Negi has a strong reason behind this thought. “People would look at me and keep asking me about the money I got at IPL auction, some would even ask me if I was even that good to get that much! Many didn’t even know I got picked for Indian team as well, but I guess that is what IPL is…2016 had bittersweet memories,” says Negi. Year 2016 ended with Pawan searching for answers, even in Google, to why everything went bust for him after that jackpot. He was out of the Indian team, next tour – out of India A squad, then benched for his IPL side despite all the big bucks and eventually wasn’t even considered for Delhi Ranji side. “It all boiled down to my performances in IPL. I didn’t really cash in on the first couple of games and then I was benched and had a long break in between.  At this level you have to keep performing but somehow I didn’t get that many opportunities and from there it all added up,” he says. Negi was considered a blue-eyed boy of MS Dhoni, who hand-picked him from Chennai Super Kings to the Indian team. The selection meeting ahead of the worldT20 squad ran for a marathon three hours, with 14 names cleared and the toss-up between Negi and Amit Mishra as the last member. Eventually, Dhoni had his way and Negi got his India cap. “To play under Dhoni bhai was the biggest gain for me. As a skipper he always took interest in me and backed me to give my best. I learned so much playing under him. It’s a treat to have a skipper like him for any player,” says Negi who is now padding up to play under Gautam Gambhir for Delhi. “This tournament is important for me. I am confident of getting good scores and wickets because this year I just want to make count every opportunity. I made mistakes in 2016 so lost out, but I won’t repeat it this time around,” he says confidently. Written by GS Vivek, Associated Editor (sports), ABP News