(Source X)
Tushar Deshpande, a rising star in Indian cricket, continues to ascend the ladder of success even before making his international debut. The Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer has received his first-ever call-up to the Indian team for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour.
Adding to his achievements, Deshpande secured a fast-bowling contract from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) well in advance of his selection for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, which begins on July 6.
BCCI awards fast-bowling contract to up-and-coming talent Tushar Deshpande.
Deshpande’s journey to this milestone reflects his consistent excellence for Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) over recent years.
His impressive performances and knack for providing crucial breakthroughs with the ball have garnered attention from India’s selectors. Notably, Deshpande played a pivotal role in Mumbai’s triumph in the 42nd season of the Ranji Trophy, where he amassed 15 wickets in five matches.
In the 2022–23 Ranji Trophy season, the talented fast bowler continued to shine, claiming 23 wickets across just six matches, solidifying his reputation as a promising asset in Indian cricket.
Earlier this year, Deshpande showcased his skills during India A’s series against England A, demonstrating his ability to thrive under international pressure by taking 15 wickets in five matches. Additionally, he has contributed significantly in the last two IPL seasons with CSK, securing 17 and 21 wickets respectively.
Over the past 18 months, Tushar Deshpande has shown remarkable improvement.
As per the Times of India, a BCCI insider disclosed that Tushar Deshpande and Mayank Yadav were awarded fast-bowling contracts shortly after their impressive performances in IPL 2024. Deshpande’s consistent bowling displays for Mumbai and CSK over recent seasons, coupled with significant improvement in the last 18 months, earned him a spot in India’s T20I squad for Zimbabwe and the fast-bowling contract.
In addition to Deshpande, six other pacers received fast-bowling contracts from the BCCI. These include Mayank Yadav from Delhi and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Akash Deep from Bengal and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and RCB’s Vijaykumar Vyshak.
Jammu & Kashmir’s Umran Malik of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Yash Dayal from Uttar Pradesh and RCB, and Vidwath Kaverappa from Karnataka were also granted fast-bowling contracts by the BCCI.
These players, while not part of the central contracts, will receive full support from the BCCI, with their training and injury management overseen by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The introduction of these contracts earlier this year aims to assist players who have represented India or are on the cusp of doing so in their careers.
