Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Rajasthan Royals (RR) seamer Avesh Khan for bowling an amazing match-winning final over and an excellent overall spell against the Delhi Capitals (DC) as well. However, DC pacer Anrich Nortje gave away 25 runs in the final over as RR set the visitors a 186-run target in Jaipur on Thursday, March 28 as well. Avesh Khan then returned figures of 1/29 in four overs and helped his side win.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “I am slightly 50-50 about the second performer I want to choose. Who should I go with because Mitchell Marsh and David Warner scored runs, and then Tristan Stubbs in the end? However, since Rajasthan won this match, let me go with Avesh Khan. How well he is bowling. It’s been two successive games.”
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“He gave only four runs in the last over. 17 runs were required for a win and he had 16 to defend and he gave only four runs in the final
over. Imagine, Avesh gave four and Nortje gave 25. It wasn’t just the last over. Before that also, whenever he bowled, first dismissed David
Warner and bowled at the right spot,” the former India opener further added.
Aakash Chopra also added that the Rajasthan Royals’ move to trade in Avesh Khan from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the IPL 2024 auction was a good decision. He also praised the franchise for sticking to their set plans and he also chose Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin as the third standout performer for the team as well.
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“The third performer – now again I am split. It could be Nandre Burger at the start. He first hit Mitchell Marsh’s stumps and got Ricky Bhui out with a bouncer. It could be Sandeep Sharma, who gave four singles after being hit for a six and a four off the first two balls of the 19th over,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Ravichandran Ashwin – he came in as a pinch-hitter and scored crucial runs and would have dismissed Tristan Stubbs had Trent Boult taken the catch. But I am going with Yuzi. He bowled three overs, conceded 19 runs, and picked up two wickets – Risbhabh Pant and Abhishek Porel. He dismissed two left-handers and could have bowled the fourth over as well.”
