The cricketing universe is abuzz with excitement as the latest player transfer news ahead of IPL 2024 has surfaced. Fast bowler Avesh Khan is poised to switch gears from the Lucknow Super Giants to the Rajasthan Royals, marking a significant trade that involves top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal. According to ESPNcricinfo, the deal has been sealed between the franchises and players, awaiting the official nod from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later this week.
In this intriguing swap, Avesh Khan, currently part of the Indian squad for the T20I series against Australia, was a marquee purchase by the Super Giants in the 2022 mega auction, fetching a hefty INR 10 crore (approximately US$ 1.2 million). On the other side of the trade, the Royals will acquire the services of Devdutt Padikkal, a top-order batter who commanded a price of INR 7.75 crore (approximately US$ 945,000) in the same auction. Notably, both players were retained by their respective franchises this year, indicating the faith invested in their potential.
Despite promising starts to their IPL journeys, both Avesh Khan and Devdutt Padikkal faced a challenging 2023 season. Padikkal, in particular, struggled to meet the expectations set for him in the top-order role assigned by the Royals. In a total of 28 matches across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Padikkal accumulated 637 runs at an average of 23.59, boasting a strike rate of 125.88 with only three half-centuries to his name. The upcoming season presents an opportunity for Padikkal to rejuvenate his form as he transitions to the Lucknow Super Giants, becoming his third IPL franchise after earlier stints with Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Rajasthan Royals.
For Avesh Khan, this move marks his third IPL franchise, having debuted with the Delhi Capitals and later excelling with the Super Giants. Avesh’s standout performance in the 2021 season, where he emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets at an impressive average of 18.75, catapulted him into the limelight. However, the 2023 season saw Avesh facing challenges on the slow and underprepared pitches in Lucknow. Struggling to complete his full quota of four overs in five out of nine games, Avesh concluded the season with eight wickets at an average of 35.37 and an economy rate of 9.75. The move to the Rajasthan Royals provides Avesh with a fresh opportunity to showcase his prowess in a different setting.
The Avesh Khan-Devdutt Padikkal swap is the second major trade of the prelude to the IPL 2024 season, following the transfer of Romario Shepherd from the Super Giants to the Mumbai Indians earlier this month. With the November 26 deadline looming for franchises to announce their retention lists and the player auction scheduled for December 19 in Dubai, cricket enthusiasts can anticipate more exciting developments in the lead-up to the next edition of the IPL. As teams strategize and reshuffle their lineups, the Avesh Khan-Devdutt Padikkal trade sets the stage for a season of renewed challenges and opportunities for these two talented players.
