IPL 2016: 5 Indian players who have to do well this season to retain their place in the national side

#4 Pawan Negi

Negi didn’t get a match but the mere stint in the Indian dressing room would have done wonders to his confidence that had grown by leaps and bounds as he played for CSK under Dhoni. A low-order hitter, Negi is more a left-arm spinner than a batsman but has to hone his batting skills to compete against the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. He is a genuine six-hitter.

His bowling style is not too different from Jadeja’s as he doesn’t turn the ball far and wide and relies on subtle variations. He is playing for Delhi Daredevils which hasn’t had the best of times at the IPL. Rahul Dravid as the mentor will help greatly but unless Negi, who averages 26 with the ball and 19 with the bat in T20 cricket performs consistently, he is likely to miss out on a slot in the national squad.