Ricky Ponting Has Always Backed Me – Avesh Khan

Young Madhya Pradesh speedster Avesh Khan has said that the legendary Australian captain and the head coach of team Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Ricky Ponting, has always backed him.

Avesh Khan, who was the second-highest wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League 2021 with 24 wickets in his bag, was not retained by the Delhi Capitals franchise ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction.

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Speaking to Boria Majumdar on ‘Backstage with Boria’, Avesh said that Ponting has always encouraged him and told him that he will definitely play for India. He said:

“Ricky Ponting, on the day of my first match, put his hands on my shoulders and said ‘This is your time. Now you have to prove yourself because you have been with the team for four years.’

“He has always backed me. It’s not like just because I didn’t play matches earlier so I was just made to bowl in the nets. He always encouraged me. He always told me that I’d play for India.”

Madhya Pradesh pacer added that the DC head coach always kept telling him to stay ready for his chance. He explained:

“He kept telling me to stay ready for my chance. Because I was always among the 12-13 players who would be selected wouldn’t be able to make my way to the playing XI, but last year I got to play from the first match and I could live up to his expectations.”

Ricky Ponting Trusted Me And, Rishabh Pant Backed Me Quite A Lot – Avesh Khan

Avesh said that the Indian Premier League 2021 was a great season for him and the unavailability of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Ishant Sharma at the start of the tournament gave him an opportunity to be a part of the playing XI. He said:

“IPL 2021 was great for me as I was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Even before that, I was with the Delhi Capitals for three years, but I did not get as many opportunities. In the last two years, I had played just two matches, so I did not get a chance to show my talent.

“But last year, as Rabada and Nortje were unavailable for the first two matches and Ishant had a slight injury and was also unavailable, I had a good chance and because I had been there for three years.”

Former Delhi Capitals pacer added that alongside the DC head coach Ponting the skipper of Delhi Capitals Rishabh Pant also backed him a lot. He elaborated:

“Ricky Ponting trusted me and especially Rishabh, Rishabh backed me quite a lot and told me that ‘you have these two matches to prove yourself, after that you have to make your spot in the team’. After that, I had belief in my hard work, that I would do well and make my place in the team and perform and help the team win matches. I just needed that opportunity to prove myself.”

Avesh also talked about his first match in the IPL 2021, where he dismissed Faf du Plessis and MS Dhoni and said :

“As a player, if you play from the first match for any team, you become a main player for the team. And in a stage like the IPL, I got the chance to play from the first match and it was a great chance to prove myself, and in the first match itself I dismissed Faf du Plessis and Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni), so I got a lot of confidence as well. After that, I just continued to perform like that and looked to improve myself and learn from my mistakes.”

Also Read: Ricky Ponting Reveals About Suggesting Rohit Sharma’s Name For Mumbai Indians Captaincy To Franchise Owners

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