U-19 star Avesh Khan - An India fast bowler in the making

Avesh Khan’s spell of 6-3-4-4 won India U-19 a match against Bangladesh U-19 last week

On a hot, steamy and sweating afternoon in Indore in the year 2011, when the air was dry and a domineering sun left an unpleasant taste, I met this boy who was just fifteen and few months by then and obviously, was younger than me. He was a lanky boy with slender limbs, his voice had an amateurish tone, sounded as thin as his body was and he never for a moment exuded characteristics of a fast bowler.

He belonged to one of the lesser known clubs of the city and had come there to attend one of the sessions with former Indian bowler Chetan Sharma, who had been invited by Indore Division Cricket Academy to hone young fast bowlers in a two-day itinerary. Post break, I saw the boy having the red cherry in his hand, which exalted him as if he had got his innate weapon of devastation.

When he ran, he ran like a rookie since his run-up was perfectly aligned. His left-leg landed with a clank on the ground and as soon as the ball came out of his hands, it took the batsmen by surprise. Everything was so natural about this boy, be it his ultra-quick pace or his bowling action which signified the old school of cricket. The ball came out of his hands very quickly and when his speed in the air romanced with the nip off the deck, it made him unplayable.

For the next half an hour, he stormed into the batsmen with his fierce bowling and astonished all and sundry with his speed gun bombarding quick deliveries. Though I had not met him before that day, the boy was part of the MPCA Cricket Academy run by former Indian southpaw Amay Khurasiya, and he was playing for Under-16 State Team.

His name was Avesh Khan – currently India’s pace spearhead in Under-19 squad. He trampled through the Bangladeshi batting attack and pulled out magical figures of 6-3-4-4 to leave them rattled and bemused at Jadavpur University Ground in Kolkata in the tri-series opener last week.

Avesh Khan (right) – a sensational fast-bowler from Madhya Pradesh

The Beginnings

Son of a property broker from Indore, Avesh had humble beginnings and started playing cricket with tennis balls in the gullies surrounding his house and nearby maidans’. In a joint-family of twenty six members’, finding his own niche would have been a tough ride for him had it not been one of his uncles, who foresighted the boy’s ability and enrolled him in nearby Indore Colts’ Cricket Club.

Aged 13 by then, Avesh had never pondered upon possibility of playing cricket professionally before senior members of the club were impressed by this boy’s raw pace.

The metamorphosis from the soft ball to the hard ball took time and he started slowly before being picked by Amay Khurasiya for his brainchild, the MPCA Cricket Academy. The academy aims at picking promising players across the state and nurture them with all the requisite infrastructure, training and facilities.

“When I first saw this boy, I was impressed by his raw pace. You don’t expect a 14-year old boy to bowl so fast. He was much ahead of his age and indicated me as a bright prospect for the state.”, recalls Khurasiya.

His action is fluent and perfect according to the cricketing books’.

When drafted under the wings of Khurasiya, Avesh started making amends to his bowling style and learned the art of fast bowling from the left-handed batsman, who has a penchant for spotting fast bowlers. The constant observation gave this boy an opportunity to remain focused on his game and within a few months, the signs of improvement began to show.

“Apart from his pace, everything was wayward about him. His pace was natural but a lot of work was still needed to be done to make him a finished product. When he came under my eyes, his bowling mechanics’ were closely observed and his bowling action, his run-up and follow through were properly synchronized to make him a better fast-bowler,” said Khurasiya.

The academy was a factory of promising players from where they were picked and drafted into the state’s junior sides. Avesh was picked to don the responsibility for Madhya Pradesh’s Under-16 team and he toured with the team in board tournaments. An improved performance in Divisional Tournament earned him a place in Under-19 State side at a mere age of 16. In his debut season in 2012-13, Avesh picked up 21 wickets and was not able to unlock further doors.

The difference in the level of cricket played between both age-groups was clearly visible to him, the players were more matured in Under-19 sides and they had more strokes in their kitty. Avesh, having played one season for his State’s Under-19 side understood the fact that his bowling would need more polishing and refining before he could break through further doors.

The rejuvenation

He had almost seven months to go before the next season was slated to begin and in that period, he came back to basics once again. He reconnected with Khurasiya and the experienced man gave him the proper coaching to elevate his game. If pace was his main strength, his wavering line and length was a concern, and the boy worked on his consistency. Khurasiya implanted in him the traits of a longer-format bowler and taught him the art of reverse swing – an effective weapon on Indian pitches.

If that was not enough, the association’s trainers and physios augmented his fitness levels and made him capable of bowling longer spells. He became an upgraded product who had conquered his weak links and was ready to go all guns blazing after the batsmen. The toiling and treading in the battlefield paid rich dividends for Avesh as he came back with 31 wickets in 7 matches in next season.

“We majorly worked on maintaining a good line and length and how to change gears in different conditions. I used to talk a lot about bowling across conditions’ and formats’ with Amay Sir and he helped in the best possible way. Whatever I am today is because of Amay Sir,” an elated Avesh said in a telephonic conversation after the match.

The rejuvenated Avesh.

On the other hand, when asked about how he helped Avesh in getting his crafts aligned, Khurasiya said:

“We did nothing but gave him the setup and environment to thrive. Whatever he is today is because of his admirable dedication towards the game and his hard work. He is an eager student who is focused to learn and improvise his bowling. He did everything possible and the result is in front of everyone.”

Subsequently, he was selected to play in the Inter-Zone tournament and he picked up 9 wickets in 4 matches. Since then, life has been a skyscraper for this young boy as he cemented his place in the India Under-19 side which played in Asia Cup at Dubai. Emerging as the second-highest wicket taker in the tournament, Avesh was selected for the World Cup squad led by Vijay Zol where India made a quarter-final exit and Avesh had an average tournament.

In the end of year 2014, he made his Ranji Trophy debut for Madhya Pradesh and has played 5 matches already, claiming 15 wickets in total. With another Junior Cricket World Cup scheduled early next year in Bangladesh, the tournament can prove the breeding ground for Avesh who is all excited to lead the Indian attack and make the most of the opportunity.

He has come a long way to become a bowler he is today, and the stakes will be high when he will be playing against major teams in the World Cup.

With Rahul Dravid as coach of the team, Avesh can do what Sandeep Sharma did years ago in Australia. Still a young fast bowler who is learning the tricks of the trade, his esisting experience at the junior level and an improved performance might make him the next sensation in the list of fast bowlers.

When asked about his obedient student who is bowling at his best, Khurasiya tells with an exuberance:

“He is a very, very good boy. He is very honest, is a good team man who gives his best for the sake of the team, speaks what is in his mind and never tries to swindle with his words. He is very down to earth and has maintained that throughout the years. He has the potential to become one of the fastest bowlers’ of the country and he can clock 145 kmph easily if kept under observation. The need of the hour for him is to play matches at big level and I am happy that he is playing for India Under-19.”