Fast-paced glory- Parvinder Awana.

Kings XI Punjab pacer Parvinder Awana has been chosen by the All-India Selection Committee to replace injured pace man RP Singh in the India ‘A’ squad in the upcoming West Indies tour. For the overwhelmed pace man, this is a dream come true.

Awana - A rising star

Being the ultimate exhibition of cricketing talent from around the world, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is not only a platform for established players but also gives an opportunity to showcase lesser known talent. The IPL has done well in introducing several small-time cricketers to the headlines. Cricketers like Rohit Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, and RPSingh made it big through the IPL. One such talent is Parvinder Awana, the Kings XI Punjab fast bowler.

Playing cricket in the remote lanes of his village-Harolla, Awana never dreamt that he would make it to where he is today. After losing his father at a young age he had a tough time growing up. He would’ve landed in the police as a constable if it wasn't for his uncle who insisted that he pursue cricket. Now at 25, Awana is glad he followed that advice.

The right-arm pace man’s cricket journey began when he was selected as India’s fastest bowler in the Scorpio Speedster contest. After winning the contest, Awana was sent to Australia where he honed his skills under former Australian player Damien Fleming after which he debuted in Delhi’s Ranji team. His extraordinary performances lead Delhi to their first championship win since 1991-92 and earned him the big ticket- IPL.

Awana has now booked a berth in the Caribbean-bound team, replacing RP Singh who succumbed to a knee injury. Awana who had been initially ignored from the India ‘A’ squad for the tour of West Indies was simply overjoyed when Chetan Chauhan called up one  morning to inform about his inclusion in place of an injured Singh.

“What IPL gave me was instant recognition. Now people on the street recognize me and ask for autographs, " he says.

Awana’s wicket spree in the IPL brought him in the spotlight. Now that the pace bowler is looking forward to the West Indies series, he is also hopeful of several such opportunities. 

The IOS team wishes him all the best in all his future endeavors and we are certain that he’s just a few steps away from the Big Game- World T20.

For talent like him, there is always IPL and IOS.

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