Tushar Deshpande has consistently impressed with his performances for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over the time Tushar Deshpande has has solidified his position as one of the most reliable bowlers of CSK.
Tushar Deshpande wants to play for Mumbai Indians if not Chennai Super Kings
Right ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, when asked about his favorite team besides CSK, Deshpande revealed his admiration for Mumbai Indians. He expressed his desire to be part of the Mumbai Indians squad if CSK doesn't retain him.
During a recent interview with Crictracker, Tushar Deshpande expressed his preference for MI as his second-choice team after CSK. The 29-year-old bowler highlighted his desire to play for Mumbai Indians, particularly due to the opportunity to play on his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium. He praised the electric atmosphere at the Wankhede and reiterated his ambition to represent the franchise.
"If not CSK, I would love to get a bid from Mumbai Indians because it's been my home team, and playing for your home team in front of your home crowd is a different feeling. I have played in Wankhede a couple of times," Deshpande said.
"The atmosphere is completely different playing in front of your home crowd. Even if I was playing in the yellow jersey, people were cheering for me. So, I would love to have an opportunity to play for Mumbai Indians if not CSK," he added.
Deshpande, who represents Mumbai in domestic cricket, has been playing at the Wankhede Stadium since his early days. His familiarity with the stadium and its atmosphere gives him a distinct advantage while playing there.
The star CSK pacer has established himself as a reliable bowler in the Indian Premier League. In 36 IPL matches, he has claimed 42 wickets at an average of 29.60 and an economy rate of 9.65. His performances in the last two seasons have been particularly impressive. During the 2023 IPL season, Deshpande picked up 21 wickets in 16 matches. In the 2024 season, he continued his strong form, claiming 17 wickets in 13 matches for Chennai Super Kings. Over the years, he has developed his skills as both a new-ball and death-overs bowler.
Despite his consistent performances, Tushar Deshpande was not retained by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. This means he will be available for bidding in the upcoming auction. It remains uncertain whether CSK will re-sign him.
Recognising his impressive IPL performances, Deshpande was selected to represent India in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, following the 2024 T20 World Cup. He has played two T20I matches so far, claiming two wickets at an average of 27.50 and an economy rate of 9.16.
Now it will be interesting to see whether CSK end up buying Deshpande in the IPL 2025 mega auction, or move beyond him.
