Pacer Avesh Khan, who received his first call-up for India in the 2010 ODI series, credited DC head coach Ricky Ponting for supporting him during his four years with the team. The pacer’s time with his franchise eventually led to a breakout season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
In 2017, Avesh Khan made his IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), but was bought by DC in 2018. In each of the next two seasons, he played one match after playing six in his debut season.
In 2021, Khan played in all their matches and finished with 24 wickets as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker. In an interview with Boria Majumdar, the speedster said:
“Ricky Ponting put his hands on my shoulders on the day of my first match, and he said ‘This is your time. Now you need to prove yourself since you have been with the team for four years.’ He has always supported me. It’s not like I was just made to bowl in the nets because I hadn’t played matches. He always encouraged me. He always told me I’d play for India.”
The bowler added, “I always knew I’d have to be ready for my chance, because I was always among the 12-13 players that would be selected and wasn’t able to make it to the playing XI, but last year I got to play from the first match, and I was able to live up to his expectations.”
Avesh Khan: “I just needed that opportunity”
Avish Khan spoke about the opportunity he had when Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Ishant Sharma were unavailable at the beginning of IPL 2021.
Disappointed, heartbroken but absolutely proud to have been part of this amazing journey. This has been a season to remember, a season full of learnings and a season of growth. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/PrJ70rtE6L
— Avesh Khan (@Avesh_6) October 14, 2021
“IPL 2021 was great for me as I was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Even before that, I was with the Delhi Capitals for three years, but I did not get as many opportunities. In the last two years I had played just two matches, so I did not get a chance to show my talent. But last year, as Rabada and Nortje were unavailable for the first two matches and Ishant had a slight injury and was also unavailable, I had a good chance and because I had been there for three years,” he said.
Coach Ricky Ponting and captain Rishabh Pant credited him for showing faith in him; he also credited his own abilities and hard work for making the most of the opportunity.
“Ricky Ponting trusted me, and Rishabh supported me heavily and said ‘you have these two matches to prove yourself, and then you have to make your spot in the team’. After that, I had faith in my hard work and had faith that I would do well and make my spot in the team and perform and help the team win matches,” he said.
DC faced Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in his first match of the season, and Avesh sent Faf du Plessis and MS Dhoni packing for ducks. The CSK skipper was bowled by him after he trapped the South African opener LBW.
He said that his performance in the match helped him in the following way:
“As a player, if you play from your first match for any team, you get a lot of confidence. And in the IPL, I got the chance to prove myself, and in the first match itself I dismissed Faf du Plessis and Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni). After that, I just kept performing like that and looked to improve and learn from my mistakes.”
Avesh Khan was in India’s squad for the T20 Internationals (T20Is) against New Zealand, but did not play. The West Indies will play him in the upcoming T20I and ODI series.
