Avesh Khan set to join Team India for second Test in Cape Town
Avesh Khan (source-Twitter)
Avesh Khan, 27-year-old Indian pace bowler has been drafted into the India Team. The move comes after the Indian bowler’s performance during the first game in Centurion. The move to add Avesh Khan to the team was confirmed on Friday by the Indian Cricket Board.
Avesh Khan was part of the ODI team that won the series in South Africa with a 2-1 margin. Mohammed Shami, still nursing an ankle injury will not be fit in time for the 2nd Test. Indian Cricket Board, hence named the 27-year-old pacer as a replacement for Shami.
Rohit Sharma saw his India team collapse on the third day to lose the Centurion Test by an innings and 32 runs. Nandre Burger was the chief wicket-taker with 4/33 from his ten overs. Marco Jansen picked 3 wickets while Kagiso Rabada picked two wickets for the home team.
Is Avesh Khan set to make his Test Debut soon?
India’s right-arm pace bowler from Madhya Pradesh, Avesh Khan is in line to make his Test debut. The move came after Mohammed Shami was ruled as unfit for the second Test to be played in Cape Town.
Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur failed to impress with the ball during the first game in Centurion. Thakur in particular was hit for 101 runs from his 19 overs before picking the wicket of Dean Elgar. The 32-year-old was picked in the team for his all-round efforts but failed to perform with the bat and ball.
Team India’s bowlers were also loose with the ball with Thakur in particular bowling 5 no-balls. It is expected that either Shardul Thakur or Prasidh Krishna will make way for Avesh Khan to make his test debut.
If Avesh Khan does make his Test debut he will become the 310th player to play the longest format for India. The 27-year-old is in South Africa and impressed the selectors with a fifer in the India A versus South Africa A game which is going on right now.
In 38 first-class games for Madhya Pradesh, Avesh Khan has picked 149 wickets with a best of 7/24. The right-arm-pacer is known for his ability to bowl bouncers which is something the Indian team lacked during the 1st game in Centurion.
