Avesh Khan

A tall right-arm quick with a high arm action, Avesh Khan made his name through two Under-19 World Cups and graduated to the senior level after impressing with his variations, seam movement, and slower deliveries.

Avesh made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh (MP) a week before he turned 18, after being groomed by former India player Amay Khurasiya, his childhood coach. Khurasiya had spotted a 13-year-old Avesh at a Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association trial and, a few years later, the quick was opening the bowling for India Under-19s. His rise to the senior level continued when he got his first IPL deal in 2017, with RCB, and he topped the wicket-taking charts for MP in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy with 35 wickets at 16.37, which included a seven-for against Hyderabad. It earned him an India A call-up in early 2019 and for the Duleep Trophy later in the year.

His breakthrough IPL campaign came in 2021 when Avesh claimed 24 wickets, second on the overall charts, in DC's run to the playoffs. That version of Avesh impressed in all phases of the game as he displayed improved pace and control and more yorkers in the death overs. He soon flew to England as one of the standbys for the WTC final and five Tests in England. Later in 2021, Avesh got his maiden India call-up after being among the net bowlers for the T20 World Cup, although the debut had to wait till 2022.

A week before his international debut, however, Avesh became a millionaire when LSG paid a whopping Rs 10 crore for him at the 2022 auction, making him the most expensive uncapped Indian in auction history at the time. His form continued in the following IPL, and an ODI debut came in the Caribbean, where he won India games in both white-ball formats.

But 2023 wasn't as kind to him. The wickets dried up and he leaked runs in the IPL before he worked on his fitness and his bowling with Anand Rajan, his close confidant, to return to the T20I and ODI sides at the end of 2023.