Team India are off to a flying start in the Asia Cup 2022 as they won their ties against Pakistan and then Hong Kong. Rohit Sharma’s side through to the Super Four round of the tournament.
Though the Men in Blue have had a lot of positives, one player with whom they would be disappointed is pacer Avesh Khan. With the duo of Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah injured, Avesh was given a go in the Indian squad for the continental cup. However, he has not been able to deliver for his side.
In the game against Pakistan, the right-handed pacer bowled two overs, picking up a wicket but leaking 19 runs. But things got worse from bad against Hong Kong, where the pacer was smashed all-round the park by the opponents. Avesh gave away 53 runs in his four overs at an economy of 13.20, making him the most expensive bowler in the game.
Thus, the defending champions might look to replace him with other talents who have been warming the benches. Here, we look at three options who can replace Avesh Khan for the upcoming games:
1) Ravi Ashwin
Team India can bring in experienced spinner Ravi Ashwin in place of Avesh Khan, who has been leaking runs at an alarming rate. Ashwin on spin-friendly pitches could be a deadly weapon, alongside Yuzvendra Chahal. Not only with the ball, but the veteran cricketer could also contribute significantly with the bat whenever a situation arises.
2) Ravi Bishnoi
If not Ravi Ashwin, India can bank on young spinner Ravi Bishnoi who was quite impressive in whatever opportunity he has got to date. Bishnoi is another young prospect for the future and his inclusion will help him in gaining experience on the big stage. Though he is not as talented as Ashwin with the ball, it’s evident that he is far superior in terms of fielding, which would eventually help save some crucial runs for the team.
3) Hardik Pandya
Though the Men in Blue doesn’t have a proper fast bowler to replace Avesh Khan, Hardik Pandya could be a replacement up to a great extent. Pandya dropped a top-notch performance against Pakistan and was rested for the clash against Hong Kong. However, there is no doubt that he will return for the next crucial games. India could look to strengthen their batting line-up by not dropping Rishabh Pant and replacing Avesh with Hardik, who could also give the four overs.
