"You have everything to succeed at international level" - Tushar Deshpande recalls MS Dhoni's words ahead of IPL 2023 season
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Tushar Deshpande shared MS Dhoni's words of inspiration ahead of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign. The right-arm pacer had struggled in his early days in the competition but played a massive role for the franchise in their fifth-title win and cemented his place in the bowling unit.
During the 2023 season, CSK were battling a major injury crisis to their pace bowling department, with all of Ben Stokes, Deepak Chahar, Sisanda Magala, Simarjeet Singh, and Mukesh Choudhary suffering serious blows. In their absence, Deshpande had to spearhead the attack alongside youngsters like Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Matheesha Pathirana, and Akash Singh.
Deshpande stepped up, picking up 21 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 9.92.
Deshpande revealed how his conversation with Dhoni at Chepauk during the IPL 2023 preparation camp motivated him.
"[Dhoni told me]: 'You have everything to succeed at international level. But you have to be calm during your run-up. Don't get distracted by the crowd. Just take a deep breath, stay calm and bowl.' If Mahi tells you that you have everything to be successful at international level, boss, that itself is an achievement," Deshpande said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.
He recalled how the veteran wicketkeeper encouraged him despite bowling an expensive spell in the 2023 season-opening loss to the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad.
"Mahi came to me and said: 'You haven't made any mistakes. You bowled all good balls. It was not your day today. In the next match repeat the same," he recalled.
Deshpande's economy rate, which has been on the higher side for a while, has often been a topic of discussion among fans and pundits. However, he has had to deliver during the most difficult overs while his knack for picking up wickets also falls in his favor.
"The other thing he told me is to focus on my fitness, which is important for fast bowlers" - Tushar Deshpande on the impact Dhoni has had on his career
Deshpande spoke about another instance where Dhoni's advice had a profound impact on his planning and execution. The former Indian skipper had told him to stick to his strengths and back himself during a match simulation scenario in the nets.
"I was bowling good yorkers, but suddenly I bowled a bouncer and got hit for a 100-metre six. He asked me: 'Kyun daala bouncer?' [Why did you bowl the bouncer?] I told him I thought he was expecting the yorker. He told me: Don't play cricket in the mind. Yorker is a yorker and no one can hit you," Deshpande said in the same interaction.
"He was telling me we keep trying to play ahead of the game instead of staying in the present. The other thing he told me is to focus on my fitness, which is important for fast bowlers," he added.
Deshpande made his national debut during the tour of Zimbabwe in July 2024. He registered figures of 1-30 and retained his place for the subsequent clash.