Tushar Deshpande Hits Back at Injury Rumors, Labels Them

After Jasprit Bumrah recently hit back at false reports on social media, Mumbai pacer Tushar Deshpande has also done the same. Like his senior, Deshpande has dismissed a media report that he was going to be out for three months. If that were true, he would miss the early part of IPL 2025. Deshpande moved from Chennai Super Kings to Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 auction and clarified that the report was fake.

A PTI report had suggested that Deshpande could be sidelined for 'two to three' months due to a recurring ankle injury.

“Fake news!!!! UNACCEPTABLE and UNPROFESSIONAL to NOT authenticate the news before posting !! I look at it as a very cheap move to gain a few extra views on your page!” Tushar Deshpande fired back on Twitter.

Tushar Deshpande created a good impression in the last two IPL seasons. He had a great IPL 2023 in Chennai Super Kings, where he took 21 wickets in 16 matches, and then he did 17 wickets in 13 matches the next season. His good shows helped him get a place in India's T20I side during the July 2024 tour of Zimbabwe.

Since then, Deshpande has not played due to an ankle injury and missed the entire domestic season. He had surgery in London in September. CSK had attempted to regain him during the IPL auction but Rajasthan Royals outbid them to get him for Rs 6.5 Crore. The 29-year-old pacer hasn't played since the surgery and is likely to miss the rest of the Ranji Trophy as well.

“Tushar’s injury seems to have resurfaced, which is likely to keep him away from action for another two to three months,” a doctor involved in the process told PTI.

With the Ranji Trophy final on March 2 to conclude the domestic cricket season, Deshpande may have to wait for a while longer. In case he is fit by then, he would play for Mumbai in the Ranji knockouts. Otherwise, he would have to wait for the IPL 2025, which starts on March 21.