Team India began 2023 with a bang, winning limited-overs series against both Sri Lanka and New Zealand and utterly dominating the latter in one-day internationals. Moreover, in the absence of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, all-rounder Hardik Pandya led the Indian T20I squad, causing many to predict that this would be the start of a new era, a split-captaincy style, for India in the game’s shortest format.
Aside from Kohli and Rohit, there were many more players who were absent from the team for various reasons. Although speed spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to injury, budding sensation Mohammed Siraj was given a well-deserved break after playing a critical part in India’s ODI triumph against New Zealand.
Avesh Khan, on the other hand, made a breakthrough debut for India but has been absent from the team for a long period. He has fallen out of favour with the squad after being forced to miss important Asia Cup matches due to illness. He has since failed to make the T20I squad, and his last ODI participation for the side was against South Africa in October 2022.
Avesh is now seriously considering rejoining the Indian squad. In an interview with Indian Express, he stated that being sidelined due to sickness was upsetting, but he is now hoping to be picked for a Test match, saying:
“I was ruled out twice because I wasn’t feeling good. Many may think I overpaid on a few instances, but in today’s cricket, six out of ten bowlers have a terrible day. I’m not whining or making excuses; it’s just the fact. I’ve forgotten everything and am now living in the present. That will happen when selection occurs. I have control over performance, but not over selection. As a result, I’ve stopped thinking about it.”
