'I've learnt to take rejections' - Awana

Delhi medium-pacer Parvinder Awana has said that he's learnt to take the disappointment of being sidelined by selectors in his stride. Awana had failed to make the 15-man India A squad for the Caribbean tour, which begins in Barbados on June 2.

"I have been conditioned in such a way that I have learnt to take rejections. You don't stop working hard because you have been rejected," Awana told PTI. "I have never got anything easily in my life. Even when I have played for Delhi, I treated each match as my last opportunity."

Awana, who impressed with the ball in the domestic season, said that he expected to make the cut for the tour. "Obviously, when you get 57 wickets in the domestic season, you expect a call. I was hurt initially, but this rejection has made me more determined to perform even better in the next domestic season," he said. "I haven't spoken to anyone after the news of the team selection came out. Just spoke to my folks and informed them that I haven't been selected."

Awana, 25, has claimed 110 first-class wickets from 32 matches in his career at an average of 29 and has been very effective for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL so far this season. He is currently their second-highest wicket-taker, with nine wickets from the five matches he has played in. He said that his form in the IPL should have warranted a berth for the West Indies tour. "Everyone has been watching my performance in the IPL. Cricketers like Adam Gilchrist and David Hussey have praised my performance, and that in itself is a huge boost.

"In one of the matches, I clocked 147kph. I have been hitting the late 130's and early 140 quite regularly, which means my rhythm has been good. Gilly [Gilchrist] told me the other day, that I am playing because I deserve to be in the side. Even David [Hussey] has been very supportive and has constantly encouraged me."

Awana's wickets include the prized scalps of Royal Challengers Bangalore's Chris Gayle and Mumbai Indians' Rohit Sharma. Of the two, he said his trapping of Sharma in Mumbai was more satisfying. "The wicket of Chris Gayle would have been far more satisfying if we had won the match. I gave 17 runs in that over [in which I got] Gayle. Had I given away less than eight runs, we could have won the match," Awana said. "Dismissing Rohit in the match against Mumbai Indians was far more satisfying. My plan worked and I was able to get a dangerous Twenty20 player like him early [and Kings XI went on to win]."