Awana keeps it simple

“When you look at the wicket, you tend to develop notions about it. I just like to bowl in a rhythm, with full force all the time and get wickets. Yes, I am a bit superstitious of bowling from the same end throughout a match because I feel cosy and comfortable on the same run-up,” he says, after bowling 43 overs — from the same end, both with the old and the new ball.

Awana admits his match-winning effort in Delhi’s crucial away tie against Saurashtra could be his turning point. “This ten-wicket haul helped my team get out of a difficult situation and may get me into the North zone team. There have been two distinct landmarks in my cricketing career so far — I got into the team because of the speedster contest where I was a finalist, then my hat-trick helped me get another game last season. Hopefully, this performance against Saurashtra would take me further,” he says.

Coming from a small village Harrolla near Noida, Awana admits he was anxious about his performance this time around. “I called up home and told them I was slightly tense, because I knew I was bowling well but not getting wickets. ‘Just bowl and leave the rest to God,’ they told me. I did just that,” he says.

Awana picks Ravinder Jadeja’s dismissal as the best of the match. “It was my tenth and will remain special. He was playing really well and looked like walking away with the match, and I was edgy about getting my tenth. I almost thought I had missed it,” he admits.

After a splendid performance in the semi-finals last year, Awana saw the final — and the initial matches this season — from the bench, but has no qualms about waiting for his turn. “Ishant is the first choice seamer, Nehra bhai is much senior and a class material. Sumit (Narhwal) also did well so I have had to wait for my turn. Honestly, I was a little surprised when I was called up to play the Hyderabad game in the morning but I guess it was a lucky break for me. From thereon, I had decided to bowl quick, clocked in excess of 138 kmph, and keep my place in the team. I am happy to have done that, “ he says, though admitting that the biggest lesson he’s learnt from this game is to bowl quick only in patches and check his pace to get some lateral movement.

Awana and Narhwal together form Delhi’s new pace pair. “We complement each other well. Sumit is the senior so he advises more. We play together even for our company so the understanding is better. As they say, fast bowlers hunt in pairs, I guess I have found my partner,” he concludes before rushing to board the team bus.

In two days’ time, Awana would be required to enact an encore to get Delhi into the quarter-finals.