Cricket

India, led by Shubman Gill, opted to bowl first in the fourth T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on Saturday. The decision was made after Gill won the toss for the fourth time in the series.Tushar Deshpande, the Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings fast bowler, made his international debut for India. He replaced Avesh Khan in the only change from the third game. Deshpande's selection is a testament to his impressive performance in the IPL, where he was CSK's highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in 13 games.India's XI remained largely unchanged, with four openers batting from positions 1-4 and only four specialist bowlers. Shivam Dube and Abhishek Sharma will be expected to contribute with the ball.Gill expressed his desire to exploit the early-morning conditions and improve India's performance in the death overs. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza emphasized the importance of leveling the series at 2-2 and outlined his vision for the team's development leading up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.Zimbabwe made one change, bringing in Faraz Akram, the Saudi Arabia-born allrounder, in place of Wellington Masakadza.

The Indian cricket team's tour of Zimbabwe has presented a golden opportunity for promising young talents to showcase their skills on the international stage. Among the notable inclusions are all-rounders Abhishek Sharma and Riyan Parag, along with pacer Tushar Deshpande, who have received their maiden call-ups to the national team.Abhishek Sharma, a 22-year-old batting all-rounder from Punjab, had a breakthrough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, amassing 484 runs in 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 204.21, including a remarkable 42 sixes. His explosive batting and handy off-spin bowling have earned him recognition, and he will be eager to translate his domestic success to the international arena."I received a call from Gill after the selection, I felt very good. When I went home, I saw that before my interview, my parents were giving interviews. That is the one moment I would cherish for the rest of my life. I felt proud. Ever since I started from day one, I had the dream of playing for India. I knew if I kept working hard I would get an opportunity but did not know I would go outside India, to Zimbabwe. This feels like a reunion," said Abhishek.Tushar Deshpande has been rewarded for his consistent performances in domestic cricket. Known for his ability to extract bounce and movement off the pitch, Deshpande will be looking to make an impact with his pace and accuracy in the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe."The firsts are always special as we all say, same for me because playing for the country is very special. Travelling with the team, and getting to know them is important. The fun we have during travels is also important," the pacer asserted.21-year-old Riyan Parag has been a consistent performer in the IPL, emerging as the third-highest run-getter in the 2024 edition with 573 runs in 16 matches, including four half-centuries."Ever since I was a kid, it was a dream to travel like this. Though we play matches, but traveling, wearing Indian clothes, is a dream. It is a new team, almost, a lot of new and old faces. Ever since I was a kid, I dreamt of it. There will be a special connection with Zimbabwe," added Parag.The inclusion of these talented players in the Indian squad reflects the team management's commitment to identifying and nurturing young talent. The tour of Zimbabwe will provide them with a valuable opportunity to gain international experience and showcase their abilities on a global stage.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) registered a resounding 78-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday, thanks to a brilliant 98 from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and a clinical bowling performance led by Tushar Deshpande.Gaikwad, who missed out on a century by a whisker, anchored CSK's innings with a 54-ball knock that included 10 fours and three sixes. He shared a crucial 107-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell, who contributed a valuable 52 off 32 balls. Shivam Dube's unbeaten 39 off 20 balls propelled CSK to a formidable 212 for three.In response, SRH's batting faltered under the pressure of Deshpande's early three-wicket burst. The pacer removed Travis Head, Anmolpreet Singh, and Abhishek Sharma in quick succession, leaving SRH reeling at 40 for 3. Nitish Reddy and Aiden Markram attempted to rebuild the innings, but Ravindra Jadeja and Matheesha Pathirana struck to leave SRH in tatters at 85 for 5.Heinrich Klaasen and Abdul Samad tried to salvage the situation, but the CSK bowlers maintained a tight grip on the game. Jadeja bowled an economical spell of 4-0-22-1, while Shardul Thakur frustrated the batters with his wide outside off deliveries. Mitchell took five catches in the outfield as SRH were eventually bowled out for 134 in 18.5 overs.Gaikwad's innings was the cornerstone of CSK's success. The skipper played aggressively from the outset, hitting boundaries at will. He brought up his 17th IPL half-century off just 27 deliveries and looked set for a second consecutive century. However, the heat and humidity of Chennai seemed to take its toll as he was dismissed in the final over.The victory ended CSK's two-game losing streak and lifted them to third place in the IPL standings with 10 points. SRH, also with 10 points, dropped to fourth after their fourth loss.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's Batting Woes Continue in Crushing Defeat to Chennai Super KingsAfter a promising start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have hit a roadblock, suffering their second consecutive defeat at the hands of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday. The 78-run loss at the Chepauk Stadium exposed SRH's batting frailties, which have plagued them throughout the season.Chasing a daunting target of 213, SRH's batsmen failed to rise to the occasion. The team's ultra-cautious approach backfired, as they struggled to keep up with the required run rate. Pacer Tushar Deshpande's three-wicket burst with the new ball and the middle-overs squeeze from CSK's bowlers proved too much for SRH to handle.SRH skipper Pat Cummins admitted that his team was outplayed and will look to bounce back stronger in their next game. "We thought chasing was our best chance to win, but unfortunately, it didn't come off tonight," said Cummins. "I thought they obviously batted well, but with our batting lineup, the wicket was playing pretty well, so I thought we had a good chance."Despite the defeat, Cummins remains confident in his team's batting lineup. "I think we are pretty happy with how the batting lineup is going," he said. "Nothing went right for us today, but everyone in that lineup has won a game for us at some point this season."CSK, on the other hand, returned to winning ways with a clinical performance. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad's belligerent 98 was the cornerstone of their innings, while Daryl Mitchell and Shivam Dube provided valuable contributions. The CSK bowlers then put up a disciplined display, led by Deshpande's impressive spell.The defeat leaves SRH with a 2-3 record, while CSK improves to 5-2. Both teams will be looking to maintain their momentum in their upcoming matches.

Tushar Deshpande, the Mumbai pacer, has set his sights on earning an India call-up after a string of impressive performances across formats. The 27-year-old has been a key strike bowler for Mumbai since making his Ranji Trophy debut in 2016-17, and his recent performances have caught the attention of national selectors.Deshpande's breakthrough season came in 2023, when he finished as the Chennai Super Kings' highest wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His ability to consistently clock speeds of 140-plus and take crucial wickets has made him a valuable asset for both Mumbai and the Super Kings.In the ongoing Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha, Deshpande has once again been in top form. He has taken three wickets in the first innings and scored a crucial 26 in the second innings, helping Mumbai to a strong position."I think I am ready for an India call-up," Deshpande said ahead of the Ranji final. "If you look at the overall season, be it one-dayers (Vijay Hazare Trophy) or Ranji, I have been delivering with crucial wickets – and useful runs too."Deshpande's performances have not gone unnoticed by Mumbai's head coach Amol Muzumdar. "Tushar has been a consistent performer for us," Muzumdar said. "He has the pace, the accuracy, and the ability to take wickets. I believe he has the potential to play for India."Deshpande is now hoping that a strong performance in the Ranji final and the upcoming IPL will help him realize his dream of playing for India. "These three months, especially starting with the Ranji quarterfinal, are extremely important for me," Deshpande said. "I want to play these next three phases at full intensity."

Mumbai's bowlers, led by Tushar Deshpande and Shardul Thakur, dominated the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Tamil Nadu, bowling out the visitors for a paltry 146.Deshpande (3/24) and Thakur (2/48) exploited the movement and turn on offer at the BKC Ground, making life miserable for the Tamil Nadu batters. B Sai Sudharsan was trapped leg-before on the fourth ball of the match, setting the tone for a disastrous start for the visitors.Mohit Avasthi had N Jagadeesan caught at short leg, while Deshpande took a fine return catch to dismiss Pradosh Ranjan Paul. Tamil Nadu skipper B Sai Kishore promoted himself ahead of Baba Indrajith, but his footwork was all over the place as Deshpande bowled him for 17.Tanush Kotian took a sharp diving catch to remove Indrajith, leaving Tamil Nadu reeling at 17/4. Vijay Shankar and Washington Sundar fought back with a 67-run partnership, but Deshpande's relentless pressure led to Shankar's dismissal for 44.Sundar, who was dropped twice, showed some resistance with a 43-ball 43, but Mohammed Mohammed's late flurry of fours helped Tamil Nadu reach 146.Mumbai lost Prithvi Shaw and Bhupen Lalwani cheaply, but Musheer Khan (24 not out) and nightwatchman Mohit Avasthi (1 not out) guided the hosts to 45/2 at stumps, trailing by 101 runs.