'I am up for the challenge': Tushar Deshpande after 5-17, including hat-trick, in Ranji Trophy opener
toi
newspoint|13-10-2026
MUMBAI: Over the years, the Wankhede Stadium has seen plenty of memorable batting and bowling performances in First-Class cricket . Mumbai pacer Tushar Deshpande 's devastating spell against Chandigarh, that saw him take five for 17 in seven fiery overs including a hat-trick, and one wicket in the only over that he bowled in the second innings, on Day two of their Elite Ranji Trophy Group D opening match will rank right amongst the best.
Hurting clearly after being overlooked for India A 's upcoming tour of New Zealand, Deshpande, bending his back to extract as much life from the juicy, fresh Wankhede track as was possible, fired on all cylinders, ripping out the heart of Chandigarh's batting like knife going through melting butter. Generating healthy pace, the 'Kalyan Express' was all over Chandigarh's batters on Monday.
The hat-trick, which included the wickets of Arjun Azad (top-edged a hook to Sylvester D’Souza at long leg), Shivam Bhambri (a superb away going delivery hit the top of off-stump) and Dipender Kush (a fine catch by Yashasvi Jaiswal at first slip) was the icing on the cake for Deshpande, who celebrated his 50th first-class match in grand fashion.
"It's my 50th first class match today. So it was just in my mind that I wanted to make it special, but it wasn't like a hat-trick and all that, but I was going to give my 100% today. And when I was batting, there were some patches on the wicket where the ball was seeming a bit. So, my only focus was to bowl maximum balls in the right area and it paid dividends today," Deshpande told reporters after the day's play.
Deshpande's spirited performance with the ball came after he had a decent outing with the bat on a hot day, after he had stroked a 47-ball 44, which included four fours and two sixes, to reiterate his utility with the bat. Asked if it was a challenging task to give it all with the ball after batting for that long a while earlier, Deshpande bared his ambitions to be considered a genuine allrounder for India in Test cricket.
"I think it was challenging (to bowl in this heat after batting earlier). It was hot. But if I want to come in the all-rounder category, or I have to show that I can bat, I have to do this thing. So, it's kind of hard work. Or you can say putting in the hard yards with my batting as well. So, yes, I am up for the challenge," he stressed.
With national selector SS Das watching Deshpande's exploits from the MCA President's Box, was it a statement performance? "You can call it whatever you want, but the job is half done. We have just put them to follow on, but we have to come again tomorrow, bowl in the right areas and finish the job as early as possible," a focused-looking Deshpande, who took 134 wickets in 49 matches@28.67, with five wicket hauls in first-class match before this match, asserted.
Was it disappointing to not be picked for the 'shadow tour' to New Zealand, and did it provide the 'Kalyan Express' with added motivation? "There is always motivation to play Test cricket for India, no matter if I am selected for India A or not. I thought for a day about that, but I have always said that I want to chase performance, not selection. So, I came back to Wankhede again, reset and do my process and bowl again," Deshpande said.
Talking about the hat-trick ball, Deshpande, crediting Jaiswal for the fine grab, said, “I want to bowl my best ball, no matter what. I think it was my day. He could have just missed it or would have been beaten by it, but he nicked it to Jaiswal, who took a brilliant catch."
Rating his sizzling performance as 'one of the best,' (his best fist class show is six for 70) Deshpande, while elaborating his second hat-trick ball, which was a 'Jaffa,' said, "If you saw, it was a top of the off-stump ball. And for a new batter to get such a ball, it's like a nightmare. As I said, I was just looking to bowl my best balls. And he got out on that."
While it's his maiden first-class hat-trick, the 31-year-old Deshpande has achieved the feat earlier in his cricketing career. "I think I've picked (a hat-trick) right from school. I think I've picked a couple of hat-tricks at the club level, one at a summer camp, one in Mushtaq Ali, and one in KSCA Invitational. And now, the first in the Ranji Trophy," he said fondly.
While one is used to see him bowl at speeds of around 140 kmph in the IPL, Monday's spell could be the fastest Deshpande has bowled in first-class cricket.
"I don't know about the speed in the match. But yes, recently when I was playing for India A (against Australia A), I was bowling at about 140s in every style with the red ball. I think it's not always the speed with the red ball. It's about the situation which you come to bowl in. It's not like T20 cricket, that I have to bowl just four overs. I have to bowl throughout the day. So, whatever the situation is, I look at what I can do the best. And accordingly increase or modify my speeds.
Having batted well earlier on the same pitch, which had something to offer to the fast bowlers, Deshpande had a fair idea of how to utilise that knowledge in his bowling. "There were some patches in the middle of the grass. The ball was kicking a little bit. And as everyone knows, if you bowl in good areas, fast bowlers and spinners get a little bit of help. So, that help was there, and I thought it would be of maximum use today,” the allrounder explained.
Getting off to the perfect start for the season, Deshpande hasn't set any goal for now. "No, I don't keep any number of goals. I just play game by game, do my best every day. And that's how I have been," he said, matter of factly.
Sylvester D’Souza fined
Meanwhile, pacer Sylvester D’Souza was fined 20% of his match fee for showing dissent against an umpiring decision.
Hurting clearly after being overlooked for India A 's upcoming tour of New Zealand, Deshpande, bending his back to extract as much life from the juicy, fresh Wankhede track as was possible, fired on all cylinders, ripping out the heart of Chandigarh's batting like knife going through melting butter. Generating healthy pace, the 'Kalyan Express' was all over Chandigarh's batters on Monday.
The hat-trick, which included the wickets of Arjun Azad (top-edged a hook to Sylvester D’Souza at long leg), Shivam Bhambri (a superb away going delivery hit the top of off-stump) and Dipender Kush (a fine catch by Yashasvi Jaiswal at first slip) was the icing on the cake for Deshpande, who celebrated his 50th first-class match in grand fashion.
"It's my 50th first class match today. So it was just in my mind that I wanted to make it special, but it wasn't like a hat-trick and all that, but I was going to give my 100% today. And when I was batting, there were some patches on the wicket where the ball was seeming a bit. So, my only focus was to bowl maximum balls in the right area and it paid dividends today," Deshpande told reporters after the day's play.
Deshpande's spirited performance with the ball came after he had a decent outing with the bat on a hot day, after he had stroked a 47-ball 44, which included four fours and two sixes, to reiterate his utility with the bat. Asked if it was a challenging task to give it all with the ball after batting for that long a while earlier, Deshpande bared his ambitions to be considered a genuine allrounder for India in Test cricket.
"I think it was challenging (to bowl in this heat after batting earlier). It was hot. But if I want to come in the all-rounder category, or I have to show that I can bat, I have to do this thing. So, it's kind of hard work. Or you can say putting in the hard yards with my batting as well. So, yes, I am up for the challenge," he stressed.
With national selector SS Das watching Deshpande's exploits from the MCA President's Box, was it a statement performance? "You can call it whatever you want, but the job is half done. We have just put them to follow on, but we have to come again tomorrow, bowl in the right areas and finish the job as early as possible," a focused-looking Deshpande, who took 134 wickets in 49 matches@28.67, with five wicket hauls in first-class match before this match, asserted.
Was it disappointing to not be picked for the 'shadow tour' to New Zealand, and did it provide the 'Kalyan Express' with added motivation? "There is always motivation to play Test cricket for India, no matter if I am selected for India A or not. I thought for a day about that, but I have always said that I want to chase performance, not selection. So, I came back to Wankhede again, reset and do my process and bowl again," Deshpande said.
Talking about the hat-trick ball, Deshpande, crediting Jaiswal for the fine grab, said, “I want to bowl my best ball, no matter what. I think it was my day. He could have just missed it or would have been beaten by it, but he nicked it to Jaiswal, who took a brilliant catch."
Rating his sizzling performance as 'one of the best,' (his best fist class show is six for 70) Deshpande, while elaborating his second hat-trick ball, which was a 'Jaffa,' said, "If you saw, it was a top of the off-stump ball. And for a new batter to get such a ball, it's like a nightmare. As I said, I was just looking to bowl my best balls. And he got out on that."
While it's his maiden first-class hat-trick, the 31-year-old Deshpande has achieved the feat earlier in his cricketing career. "I think I've picked (a hat-trick) right from school. I think I've picked a couple of hat-tricks at the club level, one at a summer camp, one in Mushtaq Ali, and one in KSCA Invitational. And now, the first in the Ranji Trophy," he said fondly.
While one is used to see him bowl at speeds of around 140 kmph in the IPL, Monday's spell could be the fastest Deshpande has bowled in first-class cricket.
"I don't know about the speed in the match. But yes, recently when I was playing for India A (against Australia A), I was bowling at about 140s in every style with the red ball. I think it's not always the speed with the red ball. It's about the situation which you come to bowl in. It's not like T20 cricket, that I have to bowl just four overs. I have to bowl throughout the day. So, whatever the situation is, I look at what I can do the best. And accordingly increase or modify my speeds.
Having batted well earlier on the same pitch, which had something to offer to the fast bowlers, Deshpande had a fair idea of how to utilise that knowledge in his bowling. "There were some patches in the middle of the grass. The ball was kicking a little bit. And as everyone knows, if you bowl in good areas, fast bowlers and spinners get a little bit of help. So, that help was there, and I thought it would be of maximum use today,” the allrounder explained.
Getting off to the perfect start for the season, Deshpande hasn't set any goal for now. "No, I don't keep any number of goals. I just play game by game, do my best every day. And that's how I have been," he said, matter of factly.
Sylvester D’Souza fined
Meanwhile, pacer Sylvester D’Souza was fined 20% of his match fee for showing dissent against an umpiring decision.
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