NEW DELHI: Two years ago, Avesh Khan was among the standbys during India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign in 2024. Since then, hampered by injuries and subsequent loss of form, his international career has gone haywire.Now, after a disappointing outing for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Madhya Pradesh pacer played a key role in Chambal Ghariyals winning the 2026 Madhya Pradesh Premier League (MPL) title. The six-foot-two-inch fast bowler, who was playing in the MPL for the first time, picked up 13 wickets during Ghariyal’s title-winning campaign.The road to this personal and team glory has not been easy. It has been almost a year since Avesh underwent knee surgery.“It was difficult. (Uthna, baithna, nahaana, sona sab mushkil ho gaya tha surgery ke baad) I had knee surgery, and even simple things like bathing, sitting and sleeping became a challenge. For almost three weeks, I couldn’t move freely, and it was frustrating,” he told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive chat.“It’s very tough for a fast bowler because when you’re injured, you’re out for two or three months and then have to find your rhythm again.“I completed my rehab properly and tried to keep myself mentally strong. Injuries are frustrating because you can’t do anything about them. Recovery takes time, and rehab is exhausting. I kept telling myself that this phase would end and I’d be back playing cricket.”
Avesh Khan played for Chambal Ghariyals in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League.
Avesh, who has played eight ODIs and 25 T20Is, last played for India in November 2024. The speedster now feels he is at the peak of his fitness and is keen on making a return to the Indian team via the Ranji Trophy.“I am ready for the grind again,” he said. “If a fast bowler wants to play Ranji Trophy, he should be able to bowl at least 30 overs in a week. If I can consistently bowl around 30 overs a week for four weeks, I’ll know my body is ready,” Avesh shared his plans.“Ranji Trophy involves long spells, travel and short recovery periods, so your body has to be prepared. Before the season, I’ll also play two or three practice matches,” Avesh added.
If a fast bowler wants to play Ranji Trophy, he should be able to bowl at least 30 overs in a week. If I can consistently bowl around 30 overs a week for four weeks, I will know my body is ready.
Avesh Khan
Avesh admits playing all three formats is a challenge, but he enjoys it. He believes adapting to all three formats is all in the preparation, insisting that fast bowlers should focus on finding the right balance instead of looking for excuses.“Nothing is difficult if you know how to find the right balance,” Avesh said. “In T20 cricket, you need variations like yorkers, wide yorkers, slower bouncers and cutters. I developed those skills gradually over time.”While he has worked on expanding his white-ball skill set, the Madhya Pradesh pacer admitted that red-ball cricket remains his biggest ambition. Despite being selected in India’s Test squad, he is yet to make his debut and hopes to change that in the coming domestic season.
Ahmedabad: LSG’s Avesh Khan with teammates celebrates the wicket of GJ’s Shahrukh Khan during the IPL 2025 cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)
“I love red-ball cricket. Playing Test cricket for India for a long time is my biggest goal,” he said, adding that after the MPL he will shift his focus to preparing for the Ranji Trophy by improving his fitness, managing his bowling workload and building his body for the longer format.Avesh also rejected the idea that bowlers should fear the run-fests that have become common in T20 cricket.“I always look at it as an opportunity. I don’t think about getting hit for runs,” he said.
If I perform well in a high-scoring game, people notice it even more. If I can help my team win from that situation, that is something special.
Avesh Khan
“If I perform well in a high-scoring game, people notice it even more. If I can help my team win from that situation, that’s something special. That’s the mindset I always try to keep.”It has indeed been a long road for Avesh Khan, who was once touted as the next big thing but has gone down the pecking order. His journey to the top was anything but straightforward. Financial struggles, injuries and a lack of opportunities slowed his progress, but like every fast bowler, he kept charging in.
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Now, with India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill making it clear that the team wants to invest in tall fast bowlers capable of taking wickets in the middle overs, a fully fit Avesh could yet force his way back into the national setup. And a strong Ranji Trophy season may be the first step towards another India comeback.