Avesh Khan was one of the finds of the 2021 edition of the Indian T20 league before the tournament got postponed due to rising Covid-19 cases in the country. The pacer picked up 14 wickets from eight matches and was the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the league.
Explaining how his chances in the playing XI came about, Avesh informed Cricket Next, “Playing matches regularly makes a difference. If you keep on playing, then only you get noticed. Haven’t made any major changes to my bowling, it’s been the same as in past years. Last year the team was performing really well, so I didn’t get many chances.”
The pacer further added that injuries to senior bowlers in the Delhi camp paved the way for him to prove his mettle.
“Last year the team was performing really well, so I didn’t get many chances. This year I got the chance from the first match onwards because Ishant (Sharma) bhai had a niggle while (Kagiso) Rabada and (Anrich) Nortje weren’t available for the initial few matches. I performed well in the first match itself and felt good.”
Ever since Ricky Ponting took the responsibility of coaching the Delhi side, both Indian and overseas players have openly spoken about how the former Australian skipper has helped them grow as cricketers. Avesh too didn’t shy away from crediting the Australian legend for his invaluable advice.
“Ricky sir has always backed me. I have been associated with him for some time now, so he knows me well. He backs all his young players, speaks to them before and after the games. He gives his inputs on how we can improve ourselves. Personally, he is fond of me and backs me. Before my first match this season, he told me that my time has come, I know you will do well.”
Watching the Madhya Pradesh bowler execute yorkers perfectly was one the 2021 Indian T20 League’s big takeaways with his disciplined bowling at the death overs earning him plenty of praise. Despite Kagiso Rabada’s presence in the side, we often saw how Avesh received the nod to bowl in the final overs.
“Every year before Indian T20 League starts, I work on perfecting yorkers. It’s one delivery that if you execute perfectly, there are fewer chances of batters scoring runs off it in the Indian T20 League. Whenever I am preparing for white-ball cricket, be it at the domestic level or in Indian T20 League, I have always focused on perfectly executing my yorkers,” the 24-year-old explained.
Avesh will now head to England with the senior Indian team as a standby option in the pace department. Earlier in the year, he also operated as a net bowler, when India hosted England for four Tests. Although he has represented the Indian Under-19 side, he is yet to make his debut for the senior team in any format.
Featured Image: AFP/ Sajjad Hussain
