Tushar Deshpande ready to put in the hard yards with an eye on India recall

After playing India’s final T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare in July last year, Mumbai pacer Tushar Deshpande was sidelined from cricket with an ankle injury that required surgery. Having returned during the IPL this year, he said on Tuesday that he’s looking ahead to the new season with optimism.

“Coming ahead are a lot of international tours. So, I’m aiming for that, and I’m feeling good now for the start of the season. Duleep Trophy is important. It’s the start of the season. So, going into the Duleep Trophy with an open mind will help me.

“Aspiration is always there to play Test cricket for India. But I’m taking it one match at a time, and just following a good process and keeping myself fit. Because, I’ve lost considerable time off the game last year. So, just keeping myself fit, so that I can again put in the hard yards for Mumbai, and for anytime the selectors feel I’m ready to play for India,” he said at the Buchi Babu tournament at the MRF-Pachaiyappa’s ground here.

On working with fast bowling coach Troy Cooley ahead of the new domestic season at the NCA, he said: “His input has been good, revolving around the workload for the multi-day format. In a four-day match, a fast bowler needs to bowl around 30-35 overs (in each innings) with good intensity.

“So, we worked on it for a week. Like, how I go about bowling 35 overs in the two innings of a four-day match. Most of the preparation revolved around that.”

Deshpande believes that the Impact Player rule in the IPL has made the game more challenging for the bowlers. “After the Impact Player rule, you cannot judge a bowler by a single game. Bowlers can’t be a lot harder on themselves. I feel it’s very important to stay level-headed,” he said.