It’s been over four years since Avesh Khan made his India debut against the West Indies in a T20I in February 2022. Since then, he has played 25 T20Is and eight ODIs, but his last appearance in an India jersey came in November 2024.
A right knee injury ruled him out of the team and, eventually, he slipped down the pecking order. However, despite the rise of the next generation, Avesh hasn’t lost hope of regaining the selection committee’s trust.
“When the domestic season starts, my focus will be on bowling well and helping Madhya Pradesh win games and trophies. Strong performances there will permit me to get back into the limelight,” Avesh told News18 CricketNext in an exclusive conversation.
“After the MPL, I will get back to working hard on my
fitness and bowling and resume my preparations with full intensity,” he added.
Avesh, though, had a brilliant outing with the Chambal Ghariyals in the third edition of the Madhya Pradesh Premier League. He picked up 13 wickets in seven matches at an average of 21.76 as his team lifted the title.
Expectedly, Avesh, who took two wickets in the final against Royal Nimar Eagles, enjoyed his maiden stint in the MPL.
“It has been a fantastic campaign, both individually and as a team. We have been unbeaten, which makes it even more special, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my first season in the MPL,” Avesh said.
“The boys have been outstanding, everyone has contributed and we have performed as a unit throughout. The atmosphere in the dressing room has been excellent and winning consistently certainly helps.”
Like several other state franchise leagues, the MPL has also emerged as a platform for local players to earn opportunities in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League. How does Avesh, one of the senior-most players in the competition, view the tournament?
“The MPL is a fantastic platform, especially for young cricketers. Strong performances here can open doors to higher levels like the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and even the IPL,” Avesh said.
“It’s a great initiative by the MPCA. Players like Madhav Tiwari, Aniket Verma and Shivang Kumar have already earned IPL chances through the MPL and I believe a few more could follow this year,” he added.
Having been on the professional circuit for more than 11 years, Avesh brings a wealth of experience to a state league like the MPL.
“I always focus on the mental side of the game. Whether it is cricket, fitness, handling pressure or mindset, I am always happy to share my experience with younger cricketers,” Avesh said.
“We have a very young group, so if I can contribute to their growth, that is something I genuinely enjoy. At the same time, I learn a lot from them as well. It is a two-way process, and I really enjoy those conversations,” he added.
The 29-year-old played only seven matches in IPL 2026, taking six wickets for Lucknow Super Giants.
Asked whether injuries were behind his limited opportunities, Avesh said, “There was no issue. We had a strong pace-bowling group, so there were not enough opportunities for everyone. It was not because of any injury or fitness concern.”
“The communication within the team was excellent throughout. The skipper, bowling coach and head coach were always clear about their plans and what was expected in the next match,” he added.
The LSG backroom staff in IPL 2026 featured several high-profile names, including former India bowling coach Bharat Arun, who oversaw the team’s rise as a pace-bowling powerhouse.
So how was Avesh’s experience working with the veteran coach? “It was a great experience working with him. He was my coach during my first season with RCB and also with the India U19 team, so we have known each other for a long time,” Avesh said.
“He was our bowling coach again this year and I learned a lot from him. After the MPL, I will train with him at his academy in Chennai and continue working on my bowling,” he added.
LSG endured a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, with skipper Rishabh Pant relinquishing the captaincy and eventually leaving the franchise. Despite the bottom-place finish, Avesh labelled Pant as an “excellent captain”.
“It was a great experience playing under him. He is an excellent captain who gives his bowlers plenty of freedom and backs them to execute their plans,” Avesh said.
“I have always shared a good bond with him, and I really enjoy playing under his leadership.”
Pant-led LSG won just four of their 14 league-stage matches to finish last in the 10-team points table.
“When a season does not go as planned, the first step is to review where things went wrong as a team. We hold review meetings and identify the areas that need improvement before the next season begins,” Avesh said.
“Every cricketer is given specific goals to work on during the off-season, whether it is improving fitness, refining a particular ball as a bowler or working on a technical aspect as a batter,” he added.
The star pacer said every cricketer understands their role and works on specific areas during the off-season before regrouping for a training camp around December or January to assess their progress.
With an eye on the upcoming Ranji Trophy, which begins in October, the right-arm pacer will embark on a renewed mission in the hope of making an India comeback.
