Tushar Deshpande eyes Test debut for India, draws inspiration from Dale Steyn

Tushar Deshpande, who received the Player of the Match award in the recently concluded Mumbai vs Chandigarh2026-27 <a href="https://cricket.international/bcci-forms-independent-panel-for-arunachal-pradesh-after-ranji-trophy-forfeiture/" title="BCCI forms independent panel for Arunachal Pradesh after Ranji Trophy forfeiture”>Ranji Trophy match, wants to represent the India National Cricket Team in Test cricket. Away from the spotlight, the Mumbai fast bowler is amongst those who have made some serious progress in domestic cricket.

Against Chandigarh, Tushar Deshpande claimed a brace in the second innings to go with his first innings 5-for to secure an innings and 155-run win for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy campaign opener this year.

Tushar Deshpande claims 7 wickets against Chandigarh

In both of Chandigarh’s innings, Deshpande continued to penetrate the batters with his skill, extra pace, and lethal bouncers. With the pace over 140 kmph, the occasional bouncers from the 31-year-old proved deceptive. Seasoned campaigners like Manan Vohra found it difficult to tackle the Mumbai fast bowler who hails from Kalyan.

Deshpande is over thirty, now a young bowler, but young enough at heart to dream and to keep learning new things. While talking with RevSportz, the pacer revealed that he wants to play Test matches for India, and to cherish the dream, he has made some upgrades in his bowling.

In search of a back-up seamer, the Indian team management has offered Test caps to multiple bowlers in the past few years. Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, and the highest wicket-taker of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, Auqib Nabi, are among the contenders to become a permanent member of the Test team. Deshpande is faster than them.

Tushar Deshpande wants to play Test for India

Deshpande knows very well that to find a place in the Test setup, he needs to keep taking wickets on a permanent basis. To improve his bowling, he has gained a lot of confidence, and with the confidence, he has gained pace as well. But gaining pace was not his primary aim.

“But I did not work for that; to be honest, it was more about the confidence and the way I practised,” Tushar Deshpande said in the interview.

Tushar Deshpande is taking lessons from Dale Steyn’s bowling

The Mumbai-born bowler, who has 141 wickets from 50 first-class matches at an average of 27.63, watches a lot of Dale Steyn videos. Deshpande observed that the former <a href="https://cricket.international/travis-head-vs-temba-bavuma-australia-star-takes-dig-at-south-africa-captain-after-214-run-win/" title="Travis Head vs Temba Bavuma: Australia star takes dig at South Africa captain after 214-run win”>South African fast bowler used to swing the ball at high pace. Deshpande wants to do the same for his team.

“So, with pace, if I can add a certain skill or I can be more skilful with the same pace, I will be a different bowler. So, I watched a lot of Dale Steyn videos; in his day, he used to swing at high pace,” the Indian pacer added.

“No, I feel I am ready,” Deshpande replied when he was asked whether he needs to do something extra to enter India’s Test team.

Tushar Deshpande said ‘No’ as he believes in his present work process. He wants to keep things simple and works according to the plan.

“No need to work harder. Whatever I am doing on the games, I will keep doing the same thing. It is not about working harder or adding something more to my game,” he continued.

Source: cricketaddictor.com