IPL 2023: Avesh Khan regrets helmet incident in heated LSG vs RCB IPL clash

The 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) delivered its fair share of intense matches, but none perhaps as memorable for its animosity as the league fixture between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). While much of the attention revolved around RCB stalwart Virat Kohli, LSG’s Afghanistan all-rounder Naveen-ul-Haq, and later their team mentor Gautam Gambhir, another player caught up in the emotions of the game was LSG fast bowler Avesh Khan.

Avesh marked LSG’s victory in that match by dramatically throwing his helmet to the ground after completing the winning run. The moment came on the last ball of the game, with bowler Harshal Patel missing an opportunity to run out the non-striker before delivering the ball. Although the delivery beat Avesh’s outside edge, the batters successfully completed the run, resulting in LSG successfully chasing down a daunting target of 213. Overwhelmed by the triumph, Avesh celebrated by removing his helmet and smashing it on the ground.

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However, Avesh now expresses regret over his actions. In an interview with The Indian Express, he admitted, “There is always something about me on social media, but this helmet incident was a bit too much. I realized later that I shouldn’t have done this. It just happened in the heat of the moment. I now feel sad that I shouldn’t have done all this.”

Although Avesh had been considered a regular player for the shorter formats after the 2022 IPL, he soon faded from the limelight and failed to make the squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup. Despite hoping to be considered by the selectors for the upcoming series in the West Indies, Avesh acknowledged that he did not have the best season in the IPL.

“If you compare my past two IPL seasons before this one, they went the way I wanted. However, even though this season didn’t meet my standards, I maintained an economy rate of less than 10. I bowled crucial overs in the 4th or 5th over and later in the death,” he explained. Avesh noted that this season witnessed more high-scoring games, with scores over 200, resulting in higher economy rates for all bowlers.