Deshpande, 30, nicknamed the Kalyan Express, has featured in two T20Is so far, and Kulkarni reckoned Deshpande can stage a comeback to the national side
Raju Kulkarni
Former India pacer and ex-Mumbai Ranji captain Raju Kulkarni has lavished praise on Rajasthan Royals’s Mumbai-based pacer Tushar Deshpande for his sharp death bowling in RR’s six-run win over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
“Tushar stuck to the basics while bowling that last match-winning over. He bowled fast, straight and up. He was targeting the stumps and executed it beautifully. Those yorkers were very difficult to hit. What I liked was the way he kept his temperament and handled the pressure calmly,” Kulkarni told mid-day on Sunday.
Kulkarni, 63, played three Tests and 10 ODIs and was known as the fiery pacer in his playing days. “Tushar kept his cool in front of such a big crowd, so it was a tremendous performance. I was reminded of [ex-Pakistan pacer] Wasim Akram, who used to bowl like this in the death overs,” said Kulkarni.
Deshpande, 30, nicknamed the Kalyan Express, has featured in two T20Is so far, and Kulkarni reckoned Deshpande can stage a comeback to the national side. “After our [2023-24] Ranji Trophy triumph [beat Vidarbha in the final] he was affected by injury, but now he has got back his speed and he seems extremely confident. He needs to continue bowling with the same attitude. I’m sure consistent performances will also help him make an India comeback,” Kulkarni signed off.
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