Post the under 19 World Cup 2016, Avesh Khan, one of the fastest bowlers in junior ranks then, was confined to junior cricket but an opportunity to play the last league stage game of IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2017 helped in gaining limelight. Though he scalped just one wicket but impressed with his pace and swing and by that game plus time spent by him at MRF pace Academy in Chennai, Avesh got selected in the Board President XI squad to face Australia in a one-day practice game.
The 20-year old bowler, who learned the skills of pace bowling under Australian great Glenn McGrath, is now looking forward to the opportunity he has got to play against an international side,
“I am looking forward to the opportunity. I am basically a swing bowler, can move it both ways. Bowling at the Aussies will be a challenge mentally. They are big players. But the great Glenn McGrath taught be a lot about the mental aspect of bowling at the MRF Pace Foundation,” Avesh told Sportstar on Sunday.
This will be a golden opportunity for him not just to showcase his talent there, but also impress selectors so as he could find a place in one of the Duleep Trophy squads when the present players will leave the tournament due to India A commitments.
Apart from him, all the other players would look for the same as selectors have to import more than ten players to fill the void and the members of BCCI President XI squad are the one in the line for vacant spots.
The squad consists of likes of Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Nitish Rana, Kulwant Khejroliya, Rahul Tripathi and much more. Out of these, Rana and Gurkeerat were the members in the previous edition of Duleep Trophy as well.
The onus is on all the players in the side to make most out of the given opportunity and find a favor for themselves.