Skipper Dhoni helped calm my nerves on my debut: Pawan Negi

INDIAN SPINNER PAWAN NEGI was finally given the opportunity to make his international T20 debut yesterday against UAE. Negi who was waiting in the wings got the nod after a string of good performances in the domestic circuit. 

Like any other debutant, Negi too was feeling a little apprehensive and told BCCI.TV that captain Dhoni and other seniors in the side gave him the much-needed confidence before and during the game. 

Speaking about his excitement on being revealed that he would take to the field, the 23-year-old said, 

"I got to know that I will be making my debut in the afternoon. Our bowling coach Bharat Arun told me that I will be playing this game. I felt really great when I heard that news. It felt normal when we were in our team meeting and then boarded the bus for the stadium. But just when we reached close to the ground, I had a bit of butterflies in my stomach. I was about to play my first game and there were a flurry of emotions as I walked into the dressing room."

"Before walking out to the field, our captain MS Dhoni walked up to me and asked me not to think too much about the fact that I was making my debut. He asked me to relax and treat the game as a normal game and go about things normally.” 

Having already qualified for the final, the Indians could afford to test their bench strength and gave players like Negi a chance in the final league game and looking back the left arm spinner didn’t disappoint his fans. 

Negi might not be a part of the playing 11 in the finals, but the Indian think-tank will have an eye on the young spinner it should come as a surprise if we see him in the final eleven during the World T20.