Follow UsAvesh Khan has been traded to Rajasthan Royals, with opening batter Devdutt Padikkal going another way in a direct swap to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), the franchises have confirmed. According to ESPNCricinfo, the trade was agreed upon by the franchises in the past week, but the BCCI is expected to give its seal of approval this week.
🚨Trade Alert: Right-arm quick Avesh Khan will now #HallaBol in Pink! 🔥
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 22, 2023
Devdutt Padikkal moves to LSG and we wish him the best for his new chapter. 💗 pic.twitter.com/ZiTzxB5f8o
Avesh was brought by LSG for INR 10 crore, while Padikkal's services were procured by the Royals for INR 7.75 crore. Both of them were retained by the franchises.
LSG will be the third franchise for Padikkal, who started off with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where he spent a couple of seasons. Across two seasons for the Royals, Padikkal managed just 637 runs at 23.59 at a strike-rate of 125.88 with just three fifties. Overall, he has 2,768 runs from 92 IPL games, with 17 fifties and three tons highlighting his innings.
Welcome to लखनऊ, Dev 💙
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) November 22, 2023
Blue suits you 😍 pic.twitter.com/wereyGF8Pe
Like Padikkal, this will be the third IPL franchise, having previously represented Delhi Capitals (DC) and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2021 with 24 scalps at 18.75. Avesh, who is part of India's T20I squad for the home series against Australia, finished IPL 2022 as LSG's highest wicket-taker.
This is only the second trade ahead of IPL 2024. Previously Romario Shepherd was traded to Mumbai Indians (MI) from LSG, having represented the Lucknow franchise just once. The deadline for the franchises to announce their retention list is November 26. The player auction will then take place on December 19 in Dubai.