IPL 2021: Avesh Khan Reveals On How Rishabh Pant Guided Him To Dismiss MS Dhoni Twice In This Season

Delhi Capitals pace bowler Avesh Khan revealed how skipper Rishabh Pant helped him dismiss Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni twice in IPL 2021.

Avesh has had a fabulous season with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 except for the last couple of games where he conceded too many runs in the death overs.

Delhi Capitals lost the Qualifier 1 to Chennai Super Kings on Sunday by four wickets as Avesh went for 47 runs and got the wicket of opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, it was one of the expensive spells bowled by him this season.

Rishabh Pant told me to bring in the mid-on and mid-off: Avesh Khan

Dhoni smashed Avesh for a flat six over deep mid-wicket to change the shape of the game for CSK and later tonked three fours in a row in the final over to take his side to the final of IPL 2021.

However, Avesh has got the better of the CSK skipper twice in this season and on both occasions, the bowler was assisted by his own leader Rishabh Pant,

“When Mahi bhai walked in, Rishabh told me to bring in the mid-on and mid-off. He said if he [Dhoni] hits you over them, that is fine, but don’t pitch fuller, bowl your length,” Avesh told ESPNcricinfo. 

“At first I disagreed with him and asked him not to bring in five fielders and leave only four inside [the 30-yard circle], but he insisted. So I did that and the second ball, he [Dhoni] attempted to hit over when he saw both fielders [mid-on and mid-off] inside the circle. He had not played for a while, and Rishabh took advantage of that and we got the wicket,” he added. 

Avesh Khan used a hard length ball to dismiss MS Dhoni for the second time

Talking about the second time when he got Dhoni nicked behind the stumps, the 24-year-old pacer said Pant had advised him to bowl a hard length.

“Once again I had a chat with Rishabh. Basically, he said to pitch a hard length and let him [Dhoni] hit from there because it is tough to do that. And that is what I did and he edged,” Avesh mentioned. 

Avesh has played 15 matches and picked 23 wickets for DC in this season so far, which is also the most number of games he played for the franchise since joining them in 2017. Avesh had Pant to thank for giving him enough chances to play.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Avesh Khan Credits DC Skipper Rishabh Pant For Breakout IPL Season