IPL 2021: “He backs all his young players, speaks to them before and after the games”: Avesh Khan on how Ricky Ponting backs young players
Avesh Khan reveals how head coach Ricky Ponting with his vast experience guides young and up coming players and how he has learnt a lot from the former Australian captain.
Delhi Capitals pacer Avesh Khan in conversation with Cricket Next heaped praises for his head coach at Delhi Capitals, Ricky Ponting. Khan believes Ponting’s hard work with young players has paid off in last season and this season too.
Delhi Capitals reached the finals of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 and lost to Mumbai Indians by five wickets. Delhi was placed at the top of the table for the 2021 season with six wins out of eight matches.
“Last two seasons we have been doing well, we qualified for the playoffs, played the final last season. Even during this season, we won six out of eight matches,” told Khan who was bought by the Delhi Daredevils ( now Delhi Capitals) for ₹75 lakh (US$110,000) in the 2018 IPL auction, in January 2018.
Khan explained that Ponting interacts with players both, before and after the game.
“Ricky sir has always backed me. I have been associated with him for some time now, so he knows me well. He backs all his young players, speaks to them before and after the games. He gives his inputs on how we can improve ourselves.”
Avesh Khan is one of the picks of the bowlers for the Delhi Capitals. In the 2021 season, Khan has bagged 14 wickets in eight matches before IPL 2021 was indefinitely suspended due to multiple COVID-19 cases in various teams.
Ponting confidence has rubbed on Khan’s performance right from the first game.
“During team meetings, he’s very positive. Personally, he is fond of me and backs me. Before my first match this season, he told me that my time has come, I know you will do well. You have learned a lot so now the time has come for you to deliver,” he added.
Avesh Khan had the best figures of 3/32 for this suspended season of IPL with an economy of 7.70 and an average of 16.50.