Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star pacer Tushar Deshpande was stunned after he was left out of West Zone's squad for the upcoming 2023 Duleep Trophy. The right-arm pacer was in superb form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 and played an instrumental role in MS Dhoni's side winning their record-tying fifth title. Deshpande bowled with pace, swung the new ball and became the go-to bowler on many occasions for Dhoni.
Speaking to mid-day, Deshpande voiced his surprise after being left out of the West Zone's squad. The right-arm pacer, who bagged 23 wickets in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season, said that not just he but everyone else has been perplexed by the decision of the selection committee.
"I am in top form, bowling at 140kmph plus consistently and taking wickets. Not only me, everyone was expecting my name in the West Zone team. It’s surprising to not be part of the squad," mid-day quoted Deshpande as saying.
In IPL 2023, Deshpande was CSK's highest wicket-taker as he finished the competition with 21 wickets in 16 matches.
Meanwhile, in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal and Prithvi Shaw were named in the West Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy beginning June 28. Besides Jaiswal and Shaw, the other Mumbai players picked are Shams Mulani and Sarfaraz Khan. Gujarat's Priyank Panchal will lead the side. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, who too has done well across formats, is also in the squad.
West Zone Squad: Prithvi Shaw, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Priyank Panchal (C), Harvik Desai, Het Patel, Arpit Vasavada, Atit Seth, Shams Mulani, Yuvraj Dodiya, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Chetan Sakariya, Chintan Gaja, Arzan Nagwaswalla.
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