Tushar Deshpande reached a significant milestone in his 50th first-class appearance by claiming a hat-trick for Mumbai against Chandigarh at Wankhede Stadium. The 31-year-old pacer, who has previously secured hat-tricks in the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Mizoram, an MCA Under-16 tournament, and various school-level matches for KC Gandhi School in Kalyan, utilized his wealth of experience to devastating effect on Monday. Deshpande’s performance has put Mumbai on the brink of a dominant victory, with the team holding a 351-run lead and already having secured one wicket in the follow-on innings. Another in the MCA Under-16 selection tournament some years back, and quite a few in school cricket – for the KC Gandhi School in Kalyan, a subdivision of Thane district near Mumbai, one had come in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Mizoram in 2023. With a 351-run lead and one second innings wicket in the bag, Mumbai are on course for a massive win, thanks largely to Deshpande. “It was one of my best (performances) because every ball, it felt like you would take a wicket,” Deshpande said.
The bowler attributed his success to high-level technical advice from coaching experts. He recalled guidance from former Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Eric Simmons, who emphasized, “Bowl your best ball on top of off stump whenever in doubt.” Deshpande also credited the influence of Dwayne Bravo and Shane Bond for shaping his recent approach. Executing this plan against Dipender Kush, Deshpande forced an edge to the slips to complete his hat-trick. He noted that the effort was a collective success, crediting Yashasvi Jaiswal for taking the crucial catch. The South African who was reportedly roped in by the England Test side on Monday, there was also Eric Simmons. 5 could manage was an edge to the slips, leaving the Mumbai players in instant elation.
Deshpande’s impact was profound, as he finished the day with figures of six for 17, which included a five-wicket haul in the first innings and an additional scalp in the opening over of the second. Beyond his bowling, he contributed a valuable 44 runs while batting at No. 9. This performance follows a strong recent showing for India A against Australia A in Puducherry, where he secured a five-wicket match haul and a crucial 52 as a nightwatchman to clinch the series. Despite missing out on the India A squad for the New Zealand tour, Deshpande remains undeterred by selection politics. 9, have left the visitors on the ropes. With the greenish strip assisting the bowlers, Deshpande could be unstoppable on Day 3, as he was in his eight overs on Day 2.
Reflecting on his career goals, Deshpande remarked, “I thought about it for a day, but I have always said that I want to chase performance, not selection.” He explained that his primary focus during the match was to make his 50th game memorable for the team by maintaining 100% effort and hitting consistent areas. Coached from an early age by his father, Uday, a former A Division Mumbai cricketer, Deshpande has become a pillar for his side, accumulating 126 wickets in 42 games at an average of approximately 26, alongside 666 runs featuring a century and a half-century.
With this feat, Deshpande becomes the sixth Mumbai bowler to achieve a Ranji Trophy hat-trick, joining a prestigious list that includes Jehangir Khot (1943–44), Umesh Kulkarni (1963–64), Abdul Ismail (1973–74), Royston Dias (2023–24), and Shardul Thakur (2024-25). Despite the lopsided scorecard, the pacer cautioned his teammates against complacency, noting that Mumbai has historically struggled against perceived weaker opponents. He emphasized that the team’s current objective is to secure maximum points through sustained intensity and precise execution.
