IPL 2022 Auction: Gautam Gambhir Explains Why Lucknow Super Giants Bought Avesh Khan For Rs 10 Crores

Former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir said Lucknow Super Giants have considered pace bowler Avesh Khan in their long-term plans.

Avesh snapped 24 wickets from 16 matches at an economy rate of 7.37 for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 to end up as their leading wicket-taker last season.

Delhi Capitals did attempt to bid for Avesh Khan at 8.75 crores but lost him to Lucknow Super Giants, the new franchise in the league, who bought him for a whopping amount of INR 10 crores.

Avesh Khan is young and can bowl quick: Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir, who is named mentor of the Lucknow franchise for its first season in IPL, said they were targeting Karnataka pacer, Prasidh Krishna. Gambhir said they went full-throttle after the Madhya Pradesh pace bowler keeping the future plans of the franchise in mind.

“We did go for Prasidh Krishna till INR 9.5 crore. He was always in the scheme of things. But we couldn’t have got any further. When we couldn’t get Prasidh, Avesh was the last in that rank who could bowl quick, so we had to go harder for him,” Gambhir said on Xtra Time.

“I know some people say that we overpaid certain players but in Avesh’s case, he’s young and can bowl quick. He’s someone you can build the Indian bowling with, and build the bowling department for the future. While people only talk about the present, we thought about the future as well. How many people who are that young can bowl 145 and can also bowl at different stages of the game?”

Gautam Gambhir happy with the bowling options of Lucknow Super Giants

The Lucknow franchise also roped in South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock (6.75 cr), England pacer Mark Wood (7.5 crores) and West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder (8.75 crores). Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Manish Pandey and Ankit Rajpoot were Indian signings for the Lucknow outfit.

Gambhir said he would have been delighted as the skipper of the team to have plenty of bowling options under his belt.

“Imagine if Holder and Wood bowl alongside him and you put in Stoinis, it would give you a good balance. If I was captain, it would’ve made me very happy,” Gambhir said. 

“Avesh is someone we thought we could build the franchise with, alongside Ravi Bishnoi,” he added. 

Lucknow Super Giants had named star Indian batter KL Rahul, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and young spinner Ravi Bishnoi in their initial draft signings. Rahul will lead the Lucknow team in its maiden IPL tournament.

Also Read: IPL 2022 Auction: Gautam Gambhir Names Lucknow Super Giants’ Most Important Purchase On Day 1