MUMBAI: Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Tushar Deshpande, who recently received his maiden call up into the Indian team when he was picked for the upcoming five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe in July, has become the latest player to receive the BCCI's fast bowling contract, TOI has learnt.
"Yes, Tushar and Mayank Yadav were given their fast bowling contracts just after an impressive show in IPL-2024. Tushar has been bowling consistently for Mumbai and CSK for the past couple of seasons, and has improved immensely in the last 18 months. This is why he has been picked in India's T20I team for Zimbabwe and has been given a fast bowling contract," a source in the BCCI told this paper.
Deshpande, who played for India A against England A earlier this year, took 15 wickets in five matches@25.86 to play a key role in Mumbai's 42nd Ranji Trophy triumph in the 2023-24 season, after taking 23 wickets in six Ranji matches@25.69 in the 2022-23 season.
Besides Deshpande, the other quicks who have received fast bowling contracts are Mayank Yadav (Delhi & LSG), Akash Deep (Bengal, RCB), Vijaykumar Vyshak (RCB), Umran Malik (Jammu & Kashmir, SRH), Yash Dayal (Uttar Pradesh, RCB) and Vidwath Kaverappa (Karnataka).
On Feb 28 this year, the BCCI, while announcing the list of centrally contracted players, had stated that it was introducing fast bowling contracts to certain players who have played for India or are in line to do so.
These pace bowlers don't have central contracts, but they will be taken care of by the BCCI, which means that their training and injury issues will be taken care of by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
