Avesh Khan has officially kickstarted his roadmap back to the Indian national team by representing the Chambal Ghariyals in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20. The 29-year-old right-arm speedster underwent critical right knee surgery in June 2025 to repair cartilage damage. The medical procedure was entirely funded and managed by his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Due to a lengthy rehabilitation phase at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Avesh missed the entire 2025–26 domestic circuit, returning to competitive cricket only in the later stages of IPL 2026. "Last year, I had surgery after the IPL, so unfortunately I couldn't play the entire domestic season and went straight into the IPL. This year, I am trying to play the full domestic season," Avesh told PTI.
His return to high-stakes action was underwhelming, as he managed just 6 wickets in 7 matches for LSG at an expensive economy rate of 11.06. The ongoing tournament at the Holkar Stadium served as a vital lower-pressure buffer zone. Avesh has handled maximum workloads and consistently delivered his full 4-over quotas.
His highlight match came on June 8 against the Ujjain Falcons, where he ripped through the batting lineup to secure figures of 3 wickets for 25 runs. Avesh has openly stated that his foremost career objective is to lead Madhya Pradesh to a Ranji Trophy title.
National selectors place a high premium on extended spells in multi-day cricket to verify a fast bowler's long-term physical resilience. "I want to play red-ball cricket. I want to win the Ranji Trophy for my team and my goal is to return to the Indian team, and that will only be possible if I perform well in domestic cricket. I need to take wickets and win matches for my team. That is my main objective," he added.
Chambal Ghariyals step into MPL 2026 Semi-finals, Avesh Khan sits at third for Purple Cap
Avesh Khan’s Chambal Ghariyals are locked in as tournament heavyweights after storming into the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 semi-finals with an unbeaten streak. Serving as the franchise captain and premium pace resource, Avesh has backed his defensive tactics with solid wicket returns to sit at No. 3 in the tournament's overall Purple Cap race.
Finishing as the absolute table-toppers, the undefeated Ghariyals are paired against the dangerous Jabalpur Royal Lions. A victory over Jabalpur directly matches them against the winner of the opposing semi-final bracket featuring the Royal Nimar Eagles and the Rewa Jaguars. The winners of both Thursday semi-final fixtures will immediately clash for the championship trophy on Friday at the same Indore venue.
Khan holds the third spot in the MPL 2026 Purple Cap race with 9 wickets across 5 matches for the Chambal Ghariyals. Serving as both captain and pace spearhead, he has successfully guided his team into the semi-finals on an undefeated streak.While Avesh’s individual economy rate suffered a heavy blow after a brutal 65-run hammering by Rajat Patidar, his consistent wicket-taking ability remains a central asset.
He currently trails the tournament's absolute leader, Parush Mandal (19 wickets), and his own teammate, Tripuresh Singh (15 wickets).With a maximum of two knockout games remaining, catching Mandal is highly improbable. However, Avesh remains securely positioned to claim a top-three bowling finish.
