"Being with CSK gave me clarity.." Tushar Deshpande credits CSK after making India T20I debut

Tushar Deshpande picked one wicket on his India T20I debut against Zimbabwe on July 13.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) speedster Tushar Deshpande made his T20I debut for the Indian cricket team in fourth match of the ongoing five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe on July 13. 

The 29-year-old replaced right-arm pacer Avesh Khan in the India playing XI. Deshpande also became the 115th player from India to play in the shortest format.

The CSK pacer made his T20I debut after scalping 17 wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The 27-year-old pacer had an impressive economy of 8.83 and strike rate of 16.94 during the IPL 2024.

Before the match, when Tushar was asked about the feeling of earning the prestigious India T20I cap, the fast bowler replied that his childhood dream had come true. The 27-year-old also mentioned that playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL will help him in the internationals.

“Very happy to be here. It all goes back to my childhood days when I dreamt of playing for my country. Being here wearing the blue feels very proud. Means a lot to me. The atmosphere is really great here. Playing for CSK in the IPL helped me. That experience will surely help me in the internationals. Overall the atmosphere in the team is chill,” Deshpande told the broadcaster ahead of the fourth T20I against Zimbabwe on July 13.

Deshpande bowled three overs and had match figures of 1/30 at an economy of 10.00. The debutant dismissed Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who smashed 28-ball 46 in the fourth T20I in Harare.

What happened during the fourth T20I match between India and Zimbabwe?

After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Indian bowlers once again showed their class as they restricted Zimbabwe to 152/7. Zimbabwe openers Wessly Madhevere (25) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (32) added 63 runs for the opening wicket. Skipper Sikandar Raza hammered a quick-fire 46, which helped the hosts reach 152 runs in 20 overs.

While chasing 153, Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (93*) and skipper Shubman Gill (58*) dismantled Zimbabwe’s bowling attack as they stitched match-winning partnership of 156 runs to help India win the match by 10 wickets.

With this win, the Men in Blue took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the ongoing five-match T20I series. The final game of the series will be played on Sunday, July 14.

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