Royals trade Padikkal for Lucknow's Avesh in a straight swap

Pace bowler Avesh Khan is all set for a move to Rajasthan from Lucknow, who will acquire the services of top order batter Devdutt Padikkal in a straight swap deal ahead of the Indian T20 League 2024. It is learned that both the players and franchises had concurred on the trade last week with the Indian Cricket Board set to finalise the swap this week. 

Avesh, who has been selected for the T20I series against Australia commencing Thursday, was purchased by Lucknow in the mega auction in 2022 for INR 10 crore (US$ 1.2 million approx.) Meanwhile, Rajasthan spent INR 7.75 crore ( (US$ 945,000 approx.) for Padikkal. Both Avesh and Padikkal were retained by their respective franchises this year. 

Despite promising starts to their Ind T20 League careers, both players had a poor time in 2023. 

It was particularly disappointing for Padikkal, who in spite of playing every fixture for his team in 2022 (17) and 11 matches in 2023, failed to essay the top order role Rajasthan had assigned to him. The lanky southpaw scored 637 runs at an average of 23.59 and a strike rate of 125.88 with only three half centuries across the two seasons. Overall, the 23 year old has amassed 2768 runs in 92 Ind T20 League fixtures at an average of 33.34 with 17 fifties and three centuries at a strike rate of 133.52. 

This will be the third franchise for Paddikal, who began his Ind T20 League journey with his hometown franchise Bangalore where he spent two seasons on the bounce (2021 and 2021). 

Rajasthan too will be Avesh’s third franchise after he debuted at Delhi in 2021, where he was tournament’s second leading wicket taker with 24 wickets to his name. He was released the following year ahead of the mega auction and was subsequently bought by Lucknow in the bidding war. He finished his first season with Lucknow (2022) as their leading wicket taker and played a critical role in helping his team reach the playoffs in their inaugural edition.

However, on slow tracks in Lucknow, Avesh struggled to make a mark often even failing to finish his full quota of four overs. The speedster could only muster 9 wickets in the 2023 season. 

The pace bowler, who turns 27 in December, will be keen to reclaim his confidence at Rajasthan, whose Indian fast-bowling pack comprises Prasidh Krishna, Navdeep Saini, Sandeep Sharma, KM Asif and Kuldeep Sen. 

After Romario Shepherd’s trade from Lucknow to Mumbai, this is only the second trade ahead of the 2024 season so far. The Indian T20 League has set 26 November as the deadline for the 

Franchises to submit their retention lists. The player auction for the forthcoming season will be held in Dubai on December 19.