Indian pacer Ishant Sharma, who recently played his 100th Test for the country has not featured in the first two matches for his franchise Delhi Capitals. Revealing the reason behind the right-arm fast bowler’s absence from the playing eleven, coach Ricky Ponting revealed that he is still recovering from a slight niggle.
The Delhi Capitals have had a mixed start to this year’s IPL. They are missing some of the biggest stars who were a part of almost every game DC played last season. Adding another name to the list of injured players, coach Ponting revealed that Ishant has a niggle with his heel and as a result, has missed both the matches that the Rishabh Pant led DC has played.
In the absence of Ishant Sharma, young Avesh Khan has grabbed the opportunity provided to him in emphatic fashion. The 24-year-old pacer took three wickets in the match against the Rajasthan Royals on 16th April 2021. Ponting showered praise on Khan, who has been extremely effective in both the games he has played this season thus far.
Ponting revealed that Khan has been extremely impressive from the first day he arrived in the camp. Ponting also lauded the right-arm pacer’s ability to bowl the slower ball with great precision. He also claimed that Avesh has been tremendous from the very first day. Praising his physique, the coach said that he looks a little bit better as he lost a little bit of weight from last season.
“He is definitely fitter and bowling faster. He is able to maintain his action better. His lines and lengths and slower ball execution is excellent so far,”
Ponting said.
Ponting also revealed that Sharma has a heel niggle that he is still recovering from. The DC coach stated that Khan has been around for a few years now. The Australian cricketing legend concluded by stating that Avesh Khan has been one of the finds of the tournament for the Delhi based franchise.
