Indias latest bowling prodigy - Avesh Khan

The 2014 Under-19 World Cup was just around the corner. Avesh made a strong comeback in the Cooch Behar Under-19 tournament to bag 8 wickets in an innings against Chhattisgarh.

This performance caught the eye of the selectors and he was included in Probables for 2014 Under-19 World Cup. Avesh made his India Under-19 debut in the Asia Cup. That turned out to be a successful campaign as India emerged victorious.

Avesh played a key role in India Under 19s Asia Cup triumph

In the world cup, Avesh played only 2 games but bowled with discipline. The 2014-15 domestic season was a huge success for him. Playing in the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy, Avesh bagged 15 wickets. Looking at his progress, he got a maiden call-up to the Madhya Pradesh senior team for the Ranji Trophy.

At 17, Avesh had a lot to prove. It could have gone either way given the toughness of first class cricket. Once again he put in good performances in the Ranji Trophy dismissing some international players like Wriddhiman Saha and Manoj Tiwary.

Season by season, Avesh was achieving new heights. During the 2015 off-season, Avesh was first selected for the zonal camp and then for a national camp at the NCA. He also bowled at the MRF Pace Academy and got adulation from Glenn McGrath. Avesh took a hat-trick in the zonal matches played at NCA to prove his supremacy. Since then he has taken his game to an apogee.

Glenn McGrath was impressed with Avesh bowling at MRF Pace Academy

Avesh started 2015/16 season with a bang as he took 5 wickets against the Maharashtra Under-19 team to dismiss them for just 47! He emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the Under-19 Challenger’s Trophy with 10 wickets in just 3 matches.

One for the future?

Rahul Dravid, the India Under-19 coach, who was present there for the tournament accoladed his bowling. “Dravid encouraged me a lot. We discussed on my strengths and weakness. He told me that I will be leading India’s bowling attack in upcoming tournaments” said Avesh.

Rahul Dravid applauds Avesh’s efforts after a win in the Tri-Series

Being a fast bowler, Avesh always prefers playing attacking cricket as he always looks to get batsman’s wicket. He is exactly opposite to that off the field. He has earned lots of respect with his modest and magnanimous behaviour. His fan following is increasing exponentially day by day, but he likes to keep it simple and stick to the basics.

Ironically, Avesh doesn’t admire any of the past international cricketers but believes in bowling his way. It is always exciting to hear about a fast bowler prodigy in India. Apart from 4 or 5 fast bowlers, there is significant dearth of it in Indian cricket.

India’s flame in fast bowling was kept alive by the likes of Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan and now Ishant Sharma. Avesh is the one to whom this baton can be passed on to in the future. As he gets ready for a metamorphosis from junior cricket to senior cricket, he is certainly looking to repeat his success at the highest level.