The Mumbai Ranji Team have faced a massive blow ahead of the next round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Fast bowler Tushar Deshpande, as per the reports in Times of India, has been ruled of the team’s next game against J&K as well as the league stage of the prestigious tournament.
The reports claimed that Tushar Deshpande is still recovering after the surgery that he underwent for the ankle. His recovery is expected to take some time, and it is learned that the pacer will be available to play in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 semi-final if Mumbai qualify.
Tushar Deshpande missed the first round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25
Deshpande missed the first round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, along with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, as well as the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. It was expected that he would return to action and could rejoin Mumbai for the second half of the Ranji Trophy season.
But that won’t be the case, as he is all set to miss the next round as well, owing to his late recovery. This could come as a massive blow for Mumbai in the tournament, especially with the way he performed for the team in the last season of the Ranji Trophy.
Also..Mumbai pacer Tushar Deshpande’s recovery from injury will take time..so he will miss the Ranji tie on Jan 23 vs J & K at BKC..and the entire league stage of the Ranji Trophy..he will only be able to play in the Ranji T if Mumbai make it to the semis! #RanjiTrophy https://t.co/wrM8xyZflA
— Gaurav Gupta (@toi_gauravG) January 14, 2025
In the last edition of the Ranji Trophy, Tushar Deshpande played a key role in Mumbai’s campaign. The right-arm pacer picked 15 wickets in five matches and helped the Ajinkya Rahane-led side win their record 43rd title in the history of the tournament.
Tentatively, he is slated to turn to action in mid-Feb, in time for Ranji Trophy semifinals – Source on Tushar Deshpande
The source close to developments claimed that Tushar Deshpande is tentatively slated to be fit in mid-February. He stressed that if Mumbai reached the semi-final then the fast bowler would be available. Speaking to the Times of India, he said:
“Tushar is recuperating at the NCA in Bengaluru. He will take some more to recover. Tentatively, he is slated to turn to action in mid-Feb, in time for Ranji Trophy semifinals, Deshpande will be available from then.”
Sarfaraz Khan to miss match against J&K, Yashasvi Jaiswal to play, speculations over Rohit Sharma’s availability
For the upcoming match against Jammu and Kashmir, Mumbai will be without their two key players in Tushar Deshpande and Sarfaraz Khan. The batter has a minor hairline fracture in their ribs and hence will miss the match, which will be played from 23rd January at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s BKC ground.
But in what will be the major boost for Mumbai, India National Cricket Team opener Yashasvi Jaiswal also has confirmed his availability for the match against Jammu and Kashmir. The batter soon will be joining the team after having a strong Australia tour.
On the other hand, India captain Rohit Sharma too has been training with the Mumbai Ranji team. There are speculations that he, too, might play the match. So far, there isn’t any clarity, but on Tuesday, he batted for around 45 minutes in a match simulation.