In a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 contest that witnessed Rajasthan Royals (RR) securing a phenomenal victory against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), pacer Avesh Khan found himself the lighthearted target of jests from his own team as well as from his former franchise, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Despite not batting a single ball in the game, Avesh was humorously hailed as a “finisher” by both teams on social media.

The match, which took place at the iconic Eden Gardens, was significant for RR as they chased down a steep target of 224 set by KKR. The chase seemed an uphill battle with RR teetering at 121-6 by the 13th over. However, English batsman Jos Buttler, who returned to the lineup after recovering from an injury, grabbed the reins to steer his team toward victory. Buttler, having missed the previous match, showed no signs of rust as he hammered a scintillating 107 runs off just 60 deliveries, including the winning runs on the final ball of the match.

Avesh Khan, at the non-striker’s end during the final moments, watched from the best seat in the house as Buttler single-handedly finished the game. Avesh ended the match with 0* off 0 balls, a quirky statistic that Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants poked fun at. RR tweeted an image referring to Avesh as “Finisher saahab,” a light-hearted jab at his uneventful yet victorious presence at the crease.

Further joining in the friendly banter, LSG highlighted Avesh’s similar scoreless cameo from a previous IPL 2024 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). They posted a comparative graphic captioned “Avesh the Finisher” which humorously recounted his score of 0*(1) in 2023 and 0*(0) in the current season.

Meanwhile, RR equaled their own record for the biggest successful run chase in IPL history—a record they previously set in IPL 2020 against the then Kings XI Punjab, chasing down the same target of 224 runs. Their captain, Sanju Samson, heralded the performance as a perfect comeback, with special praises reserved for Buttler’s resilience and match-reading ability.

Discussing his inning post-match, Buttler expressed key insights into his mindset during the chase. “Keep believing, that was the real key today,” said Buttler. He admitted to struggling with his rhythm initially but remained focused on staying calm and maintaining belief, a trait he’s observed in legendary IPL performers like M.S. Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

Buttler’s inning not only brought RR a much-needed win but also pushed him up in the ranks of IPL centurions. He now sits just one century shy of Virat Kohli’s record, making him second in the all-time list.

This lively and eventful match once again highlights the unpredictable and exciting nature of IPL cricket, where fortunes can turn in a matter of deliveries, and sometimes, even without facing a single ball, as Avesh Khan amusingly demonstrated. As the season progresses, fans eagerly await more such thrilling performances and lighthearted moments that enrich the narrative of IPL cricket. For the latest updates, fans continue to follow the teams and players across various platforms, ensuring they don’t miss any action from IPL 2024.

By IPL Agent

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