Fast bowler Avesh Khan revealed the conversation that he had with Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant after the pacer was bought by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at IPL 2022 auction.
Avesh Khan created history in the IPL 2022 auction, that took place in Bengaluru on 12th and 13th February. The right-arm pacer became the most expensive uncapped player ever as he was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the whopping amount of INR 10 crores.
The fast bowler invited a bidding war between as many as 5 teams in LSG, CSK, MI, DC, and SRH but in the end, the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise signed him as their most expensive pick.
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Speaking in an interaction with Sportskeeda, Avesh Khan said that he expected to get at least 7 crores in the IPL 2022 auction. He revealed that when the event took place he was in flight and was nervous about which team will pick him.
He added that when he got to know that Lucknow got him for 10 crores he froze for five seconds.
“I was on the flight at that time and I had expected I would get at least 7 crores. But since I was on the flight and couldn’t watch the auction live, I was feeling a bit nervous thinking which team would pick me and for how much.
“Upon landing when I got to know that Lucknow bought me for 10 crores, I froze for five seconds. But then things became normal, I was like okay," Avesh Khan
Avesh said that throughout the flight journey Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Siraj were pulling his leg and were speculating how much money will the pacer get. He revealed that Venkatesh Iyer broke the news to him and everyone clapped for him and it was a special moment for him.
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“Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Siraj were pulling my leg throughout the flight journey – they were just speculating how much I would go for, which all teams would be interested in me, and all that. Once we landed, the network on my phone was spotty, but then Venkatesh Iyer broke the news to me.
“Everyone clapped for me on the flight, that was a very special moment. As soon as my network became available, I continuously started receiving calls, WhatsApp messages,” he said.
Avesh Khan further said that he would miss Delhi Capitals a lot as he had an emotional connection with the franchise. He revealed that when their flight landed in Kolkata, Rishabh Pant hugged him and told him sorry that they couldn’t buy him back in the mega auction.
He further said that it was an emotional moment with Rishabh Pant as they are great friends, who played since U19 days.
“I would miss them [Ricky Ponting and Co.] a lot because I had an emotional connect with the Delhi Capitals. After our flight landed in Kolkata, I met Rishabh outside and he held his arms wide open for giving me a hug. He told me, ‘Sorry, le nahin paye’(sorry we couldn't buy you). Because they weren’t left with a huge purse and had players to buy as well.
“When I watched the auction later, I saw that they did place a final bid for me at 8.75cr, but Lucknow eventually bid the highest. So it was a very emotional moment with Rishabh; we have played Under-19 together, we always sit together after matches, hang out together,” he concluded.
Avesh Khan had a brilliant campaign in IPL 2021. The right-arm pacer was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 24 wickets to his name.
