Pawan Negi's Indian Premier League Auction 'Surprise' Celebrated Joyously in His Ancestral Village
Pawan Negi, who became the costliest Indian player at the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, has capped off a wonderful year for him so far and it has put his home town of Tumri on the world map.
Pawan Negi's astonishing rise has captured the imagination of not only people living in India but the entire world. However, the ones who are truly ecstatic at what he has achieved, reside in a tiny, non-descript village of Tumri in Almora district, Uttarkhand. (IPL 2016: Pawan Negi Steals the Show, Shane Watson Gets Top Billing)
For it was from this very village, that Negi and his parents started their journey but moved out in search of a better livelihood. (IPL 2016 Auction Highlights)
Tucked away in the folds of the hill-district, Tumri has made it onto the world map thanks to Negi, the costliest Indian player at the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. (Pawan Negi Included in Asia Cup and World Twenty20 Squads)
Delhi Daredevils'>Delhi Daredevils paid a whopping Rs 8.5 crore for this left-arm orthodox bowler, who only recently was named in India's squad for the Sri Lanka series, Asia Cup T20 and World Twenty20.
Negi has played a total of 21 IPL games, wherein he has scored 144 runs at a strike rate of 153.19. With the ball, he has picked up 13 wickets with the best of 4/18. The 23-year-old has a modest domestic Twenty20 record wherein he scored 479 runs in 56 matches.
Negi himself had spoken of his surprise at being included in the India squad for the T20 series at home against Sri Lanka, so one can imagine his shock at becoming the most expensive Indian buy in the IPL auction 2016.
Away from the grind of mainland cricket, the elders in Negi's village got together and distributed sweets after hearing the news of one of their own making a mark in the world of cricket.
Mohan Chand Joshi, Negi's neighbour in his ancestral home, remembered fondly how he would play cricket in the fields whenever the family would return home for vacations or festivities in Tumri. ÂÂ
"Today, I see my grandchildren take interest in the game of cricket and I hope they will take up the sports seriously and bring pride not only to the country and district but to a forgotten village," Joshi said.
For, others like Anil Chaudhry, Negi's feat at the IPL auction has, "brought Diwali celebrations months in advance with sweets being distributed and cracker's being burst in every nook and corner of the hill-district of Almora".
Everyone, irrespective of age or gender, joined the celebrations and wished Negi well but the dimunitive all-rounder will know that his real test as a cricketer has just begun.
-With inputs from Tania Saili Bakshi-