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Uncapped bowler Tushar Deshpande did the heavy lifting for five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the absence of big names. Deshpande was expensive in a season which saw a record number of 200-plus scores, but he finished IPL 2023 as CSK’s highest wicket-taker. After a breakthrough IPL 2023 season, Deshpande is willing to follow his skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni like an obedient soldier as he feels that he will never go down the wrong path with him guiding.
You know you have someone who will guide and show the light when things are not going in our favour. He is a selfless guy and keeps things simple. He doesn’t complicate things and will be with you in your bad times. Like a soldier, I will just follow whatever he says. I know he can never take me on a wrong path," the 28-year-old told Indian Express.
Despite registering an unwanted record of conceding most runs in an IPL season (564), Deshpande got key breakthroughs for CSK when the skipper wanted him to. He was unlucky in the IPL 2023 final as Deepak Chahar dropped an in-form Shubman Gill’s catch in his first over. In the slog overs, he was expensive against a set Sai Sudharsan and Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya. He ended up conceding 56 runs from his quota of four overs, the most expensive bowling figures by an Indian bowler in IPL finals.
Remaining calm is the key
Picked at the base price of Rs 20 lakh in the mega auction and then retained for the following season, Deshpande revealed that Dhoni told him that he has what it takes to be in the national side. He advised to remain calm in tense situations.
“His (MS Dhoni) plans are very clear ke yeh yeh karna hai (this is what you need to do) and then one has to execute. He will give freedom as well and when needed he will put a word. He told me that I have everything to play at the top, just be calm, take a deep breath. Keeping mind- shaant is the key (keep the mind calm)," he said.
Assurance from Dhoni
Deshpande also recalled a game where he was smashed around the park. The 41-year-old then told Deshpande not to worry about his spot in the side stressing that with new impact rule coming into play, 200-plus scores will be a common occurrence than before.
“Once I didn’t bowl well, he (MS Dhoni) came and said that with the new impact rule, 200 plus score is the new normal and he told me don’t worry about my place. He gave the surety which is what (young) players want," the right-arm pacer said.
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