Veteran right‑arm pacer Tushar Deshpande delivered a decisive three‑in‑three spell on the second day of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy encounter with Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium. The hat‑trick, taken on a greenish pitch that favoured seamers, helped extend Mumbai’s already imposing 351‑run lead and left the visitors reeling as the home side edged closer to a commanding victory.
Career milestones and earlier hat‑tricks
Before the Monday performance, Deshpande had already amassed a collection of hat‑tricks across different levels of Indian cricket. He recorded one in the 2023 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Mizoram, another during an MCA Under‑16 selection tournament, and several during his school days for KC Gandhi School in Kalyan, a suburb of Thane district near Mumbai. Those experiences proved valuable when he found himself in a three‑in‑three situation on Day 2 of the Ranji match.
Deshpande, now 31, has been guided by a handful of international and IPL‑level mentors. Former Chennai Super Kings all‑rounder Dwayne Bravo, former Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Shane Bond, and South African coach Eric Simons – who was appointed to England’s Test side earlier in the week after a stint as CSK’s bowling coach – all offered him specific advice. Simons, in particular, urged Deshpande to “bowl your best ball on top of off stump whenever in doubt.” Deshpande recalled following that counsel precisely when he delivered the decisive ball to Chandigarh’s No. 5 batsman Dipender Kush.
Day two: the hat‑trick and a day of dominance
On the day in question, Deshpande claimed his fourth wicket of the innings by striking Kush with a full‑length delivery aimed at the top of off stump. The ball induced a thin edge that was safely collected by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the slips, completing the hat‑trick. He later added two more scalps – one in Chandigarh’s first innings to complete a five‑wicket haul and another in the very first over of the second innings – further unsettling the opposition.
Overall, Deshpande finished the day with figures of six wickets for 17 runs. In addition to his bowling heroics, he contributed a quick‑fire 44 runs while batting at No. 9, reinforcing Mumbai’s dominant position. The combination of a massive lead, a recent follow‑on enforcement, and a solitary second‑innings wicket meant that Mumbai were well on their way to securing a bonus point and a massive win.
Reflecting on the performance, Deshpande described it as “one of my best” because every delivery felt like a wicket‑taking opportunity. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining intensity, stating that if the team could replicate the first‑innings display and keep bowling in the right areas, the outcome would be even more satisfying.
Impact on Mumbai’s campaign and future outlook
Deshpande’s feat placed him as the sixth bowler in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy history to claim a hat‑trick. The previous five were Jehangir Khot (Baroda, 1943‑44), Umesh Kulkarni (Gujarat, 1963‑64), Abdul Ismail (Saurashtra, 1973‑74), Roystar Dias (Bihar, 2023‑24) and Shardul Thakur (Meghalaya, 2024‑25). The achievement underscored his role as a key performer for the side, where he has taken 126 wickets in 42 matches at an average of roughly 26. He also boasts a century and a half‑century in 666 runs for Mumbai.
Beyond the Ranji match, Deshpande’s recent form includes a notable outing for India A against Australia A in Puducherry. He claimed a five‑wicket haul in the first match and later rescued India A with a gritty 52‑run night‑watchman innings in the second, helping the side clinch the series. Although he had hoped for selection on the India A tour of New Zealand, he was not chosen. He said the setback motivated him to focus on performance rather than selection, emphasizing his ambition to play Test cricket for India.
Marking his 50th first‑class appearance, Deshpande said he entered the match intent on giving his 100 percent, not specifically targeting a hat‑trick. He noted that certain patches on the wicket caused the ball to move, reinforcing his strategy of bowling as many deliveries as possible in the right areas. “If we can put on another show like we did in the first innings and maintain the intensity whenever I bowl, I’ll be even happier,” he added.
Coached by his father Uday, a former A Division player in Mumbai cricket, Deshpande’s cricketing pedigree runs deep. He cautioned teammates against underestimating any opponent, recalling past losses to weaker sides. “Our job is to collect as many points as possible,” he said, underscoring Mumbai’s aim to finish the match with a bonus point and secure a massive win.
With the green pitch likely to continue assisting seamers, Deshpande’s day‑two spell could be a harbinger of further breakthroughs on Day 3. If he maintains the line and length that earned him the hat‑trick, Mumbai may well finish the contest with a decisive victory and an added league point.
Be First to Comment