The Madhya Pradesh-born cricketer, Avesh Khan broke into the senior Men’s cricket team of India on the basis of some good showings in both domestic cricket as well as the IPL. However, his team India sojourn has been mixed baggage of sorts. After showing a lot of promise against Sri Lanka and West Indies at the outset, the young pacer seems to have hit a low, especially in the ongoing Asia Cup. However, he has the potential to be a potent bowler in the T-20 and ODI formats for India. For that Team India needs to utilize him properly. Let’s figure out how the all-format captain Rohit Sharma can make the best use of him going forward.
Encourage Him To Hurl Short-pitched Stuff More Often Than Not
Avesh has the pace to trouble any batsmen in world cricket but the same quality can prove to be a bane, especially on the flat tracks in the Asian subcontinent. So, the team management should goad him on to constantly pepper the opposition batsmen with short-pitched deliveries aimed at their bodies. It is a known fact there is nothing like well-directed rising deliveries on flat tracks as these can force batsmen to play false shots into the hands of fielders inside the circle or outside. Also, considering the pace at his disposal these rising deliveries could easily turn into an ideal weapon to tackle the best of the batters.
Make Him A New Ball Bowler
Currently, he is brought into the attack only as a first or a second-change bowler. During these times the ball loses its lustre and he becomes easy fodder for the opposition batsmen with the truckload of pace at his disposal on flat pitches, especially in the UAE or in the subcontinent. Hence, Rohit should utilize him to the maximum when the ball is new. Keeping him for the final stage of the game could be a recipe for disaster and in future, he can even evolve into a bowler for all occasions as he spends more time in international cricket.
Don’t Give Him Death Overs
Death overs should be reserved for your best bowlers who have gained considerable experience over the years. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar or Jasprit Bumrah are ideal for the finishing acts. In the absence of Bumrah, Rohit is giving Avesh the responsibility at the death and the young pacer is getting hit all over the park as a result of his inexperience. Till the time he gains exposure to develop the yorkers or slower ones or off cutters to surprise the batsmen, Avesh can be spared the burden of bowling in the crucial overs at the end. It is too early to entrust him with such huge responsibilities. So, give him the middle overs for the time being, where he can hit hard lengths to curtail the run-scoring opportunities of the batters.
