As the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) and four-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) gear up to clash in the opening game of the IPL 2023, Tushar Deshpande, the CSK pacer, revealed how MS Dhoni’s advice helped him improve his game.
Deshpande made his debut in the T20 league for the Delhi Capitals in 2020, and was picked by CSK for his base price of INR 20 lakh at the IPL 2022 Mega Auction. Though he played only two games for the team last season, Deshpande had an impressive domestic season, where he picked up 51 wickets.
In an interview, Deshpande shared how a chat with MS Dhoni helped him grow as a bowler and as an individual. He learned how to take responsibility when the team is under pressure and credited his impressive performance to the former Indian skipper’s advice.
Dhoni’s tips on taking ownership of the game and handling pressure situations proved to be invaluable for Deshpande, who became the first player from his state to achieve the feat of taking 51 wickets in a single domestic season.
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With CSK finishing at a disappointing ninth position last year, the team will be looking to make a strong comeback in this year’s tournament. CSK has a formidable squad that includes the likes of Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja, and Moeen Ali. However, injuries to Mukesh Choudhary and Kyle Jamieson have dealt a blow to their campaign.
The match between GT and CSK promises to be a cracker of a contest as both teams will be looking to start their IPL 2023 campaign on a high note. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if CSK can turn their fortunes around and make a strong start in the tournament.