Tushar Deshpande

Tushar Deshpande player profile

A stocky bowler from Mumbai known for his bristling pace, unpredictable variety and wicket-taking ability, Tushar Deshpande made his India debut in T20Is at 29 after toiling in the domestic circuit for nine years.

Deshpande came through by picking wickets in the Cooch Behar Trophy and started his first-class career with a bang, in 2016-17, when he bagged 19 wickets in his first five Ranji Trophy games and ended the season with a tally of 21 when Mumbai finished as runners-up. He was also handy with the white ball, proven by his tally of 15 in eight games when Mumbai lifted the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2018-19. He was, however, on the fringes of the Mumbai set-up and got chances mainly when one of Shardul Thakur or Dhawal Kulkarni was unavailable. A no-ball problem also affected his consistency. He became a regular feature after the 2018-19 season when he was also picked for the Duleep Trophy and made his IPL debut in 2020 for Delhi Capitals (DC). After he blew hot and cold that season, he was picked up by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the mega auction in 2022, which gave him only two match opportunities.

He turned his IPL fortunes around in 2023 when he became CSK's go-to seamer after Dwayne Bravo retired and Deepak Chahar was injured. Deshpande also worked on his yorkers and death bowling that year and played all 16 games to emerge as their top wicket-taker, with 21, in their victorious campaign. He followed it with another 17 scalps in IPL 2024 while also playing a pivotal role Mumbai's Ranji Trophy-winning season with 15 wickets and his maiden-first class century, in five games.

He was soon promoted to the India A set-up and was handed his India debut in July 2024 in Zimbabwe.

Tushar Deshpande IPL factfile

- Tushar Deshpande made a name in the shortest format at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was Mumbai's highest and second-highest wicket-taker in 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. That paved the way for his selection in the IPL, where Delhi Capitals (DC) bagged him for INR 20 lakh for the 2020 season.

- An expensive start in the IPL - just three wickets in five games, at an economy of 11.29 - meant DC released him straightaway. He was a net bowler for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2021, and even turned out for them next year. CSK paid INR 20 lakh for Deshpande, who played just two games for them in 2022.

- But 2023 turned out to be a turning point for Deshpande. With Dwayne Bravo done and Deepak Chahar injured, Deshpande turned out to be CSK's highest wicket-taker with 21 wickets in their victorious campaign. He repeated the feat with 17 wickets in 2024, and that consistency helped him make his T20I debut for India on the tour of Zimbabwe in July.

- However, CSK released him ahead of the mega auction in 2025. Deshpande then made his way to Rajasthan Royals, who shelled INR 6.5 crore for him.