As a bowler, you’ll have to accept that you’ll sometimes get smashed: Avesh Khan

In what’s been a season that’s proven to be an absolute nightmare for bowlers, Rajasthan Royals’ Avesh Khan has been one of the standout performers with the ball in hand. Avesh’s raw numbers — 9 wickets at average 37.11 and E.R 9.54 —  might not look extraordinary, but the right-armer has proven to be a significant point of difference for table toppers RR, particularly outside the powerplay. With 5 wickets at the death at an E.R of 9.5, Avesh has proven to be one of the best death bowlers in the season.

This season, there’s been a lot of chatter about how bowlers have been reduced to mere bowling machines due to several factors, but Avesh is of the opinion that a bowler can still taste success in this competition if they back themselves. 

“If you back yourself, you’ll look at the game from a whole different perspective,” Avesh said at the press conference post the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) clash.

“As a bowler, the key is to be confident and can get your execution right. It’s completely okay if you get hit for fours and sixes bowling good balls. We know the wickets are flat, the impact player rule has made batting line-ups deeper and grounds are small, but as a bowler, you’ll be successful if you back yourself.”

According to Avesh, it’s key for bowlers to accept the reality that they’ll inevitably get hammered in select games in a long competition like the Indian Premier League (IPL). Case in point, Avesh himself has maintained an E.R under 8.80 in five games, but has registered an E.R over 10.5 on four separate occasions.

“In a tournament like the IPL, it’s not possible to be at your best in every single game. There’ll be four or five games in a season where you’ll get smashed. You have to accept this fact and keep giving your 100%. The results will automatically follow.”

Rajasthan have, by a distance, been the best bowling side in IPL 2024, having maintained the best economy (8.9) and the second-best average (27.6). They’ve also conceded a boundary every 5.7 balls, which is the best figure for any bowling side in the competition.

In particular, Sanju Samson’s side have won games in the powerplay, taking 16 wickets at a remarkable average of 27.1 and an economy of 8.00, in a season which has seen teams post 75+ runs in the first six overs for fun. 

The team’s success in the powerplay, Avesh revealed, is down to their meticulous planning.

“We keep our plans simple,” the 27-year-old said. 

“When it comes to Trent Boult, for instance, we know he swings the ball into the batter and targets the stumps. When it comes to team meetings, we spend a lot of time discussing the scoring area of individual batters. 

“We talk about where we could bowl to which batter. If you can strike up-front in the powerplay, you will instantly put the other team under pressure.”

The right-armer also revealed that an underrated aspect of RR’s bowling unit is how every individual backs each other. 

“All the bowlers, we back each other. We know every bowler can’t and won’t have a good outing in a given match. So we ensure to back each other game after game,” Avesh said.

Having won eight of their first nine matches, RR are all but through to the playoffs. One more win will seal qualification and inevitably also seal their spot in the Top two.

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