Rajasthan Royals pacer Tushar Deshpande opened up about a memorable yet pressure-filled moment in the 2025 IPL. In the final game of the season, he had to bowl to none other than his former skipper at Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni.
Having spent three seasons with CSK between 2022 and 2024, Deshpande knew the stature of the man at the crease. He admitted that the challenge wasn’t just about executing yorkers or slower deliveries—it was about the mental weight of impressing Dhoni.
He revealed that, while delivering each ball, he couldn’t shake off the thought of making an impression on the legendary finisher. For any young Indian pacer, bowling to Dhoni—who has turned countless matches on their head—was not just a tactical contest, but also an emotional one.
Delivering a Tight Penultimate Over
Despite the heavy pressure of the situation, Deshpande produced one of his best overs of the season. Tasked with bowling the penultimate over against Dhoni and Shivam Dube, two powerful hitters, he held his nerve. He conceded only six runs—every delivery ending in singles—and crucially, no boundaries were scored.
Such accuracy in crunch situations often defines the outcome of T20 games, and this particular over was a personal victory for Deshpande. He said later that moments like these fuel a bowler’s confidence, especially when they come against someone like Dhoni, who is feared for his ability to dismantle death bowling.
Honest Reflection on His Season
While this performance stood out, Deshpande was frank about his overall IPL 2025 campaign. Across ten matches, he managed to pick up just nine wickets—a return lower than what he or his franchise would have hoped for. He highlighted the immense pressure bowlers face in the tournament, particularly under the “Impact Player” rule that allows teams to strengthen batting line-ups further.
According to him, bowlers often operate in high-risk phases like the powerplay or the final overs, where even a well-directed ball can disappear for runs. He urged fans and experts not to judge a bowler solely on a single match or on surface-level statistics.
Reminding everyone of his earlier consistency, Deshpande pointed out that he had been CSK’s leading wicket-taker for two consecutive seasons before moving to the Royals. For him, this year may not have been his most successful statistically, but it was rich in experience and lessons about handling pressure in the toughest league in the world.
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