Mumbai pacer Tushar Deshpande produced a devastating spell, claiming a sensational hat-trick en route to a five-wicket haul that put his side in absolute command against Chandigarh in the first innings of their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Elite Group D opener at the Wankhede Stadium. The moment became extra special as it was 50th first-class appearance for the 30-year-old fast bowler who finished with spectacular figures of 5 for 17, dismantling the visitors for just 78 on Day 2.

Deshpande’s ruthless spell was defined by relentless accuracy. Probing a helpful Wankhede surface, he constantly questioned the batters by targeting the right areas. The Mumbaikar, who earlier contributed a valuable 44 off 47 balls, reflected on his memorable outing.

"Playing 50 first-class games is a massive achievement for me because we all know domestic cricket is incredibly difficult," Deshpande told BCCI.tv. "I just wanted to make the occasion memorable, but I didn't expect it to be this special."

The 30-year-old became only the sixth bowler in Mumbai's storied history to register a first-class hat-trick when he dismissed Chandigarh’s Arjun Azad, Shivam Bhambri, and Dipender Kush off consecutive deliveries in the 11th over.

While he previously took a white-ball hat-trick against Mizoram in the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, this red-ball milestone felt deeply personal. Dedicating the feat to his father, Uday Deshpande, he revealed, "My father always told me that picking one wicket is fine, but if you can pick two wickets in an over, you are a very good bowler. Today, I managed three back-to-back deliveries. It felt like fulfilling a challenge I used to take up with my father back in the day to alter an over completely."

In 50 first-class matches, Deshpande has now amassed 140 wickets at an average of around 28. His decade-long journey since debuting in 2016 has seen hurdles, including a major ankle surgery in late 2024. Yet, his seamless transition across formats highlights his tactical evolution.

"I love red-ball cricket, but over time, I’ve learned to read conditions and situations in white-ball cricket as well," he explained. "I’m up for any format because the core line and length remain the same. It’s just about fine adjustments and a mental switch when the ball changes. No matter the format, the ball, or the phase of the game, I always look for wickets; that has always been my USP."

This aggressive approach has paid dividends beyond the domestic circuit. Deshpande played an instrumental role in Chennai Super Kings' triumphant 2023 IPL campaign, claiming 21 wickets, before making his India debut against Zimbabwe in a T20I series back in 2024. Asked about his goals for the current domestic season and the prospect of a national recall, he said,

"Before the season, I wrote down a goal to become the best version of myself, regardless of whether I got selected for the Indian team or not. I wanted to be fitter, stronger, bowl quicker, and create a sense of dehshat (fear) in the opposition. When I look in the mirror, I don't want to feel like I'm lacking in any area, so I've locked into a strict process with my diet and fitness. I have always said that I want to chase performance, not selection."

True to his word of maintaining dehshat, Deshpande kept his foot on the gas after Mumbai enforced the follow-on. Taking the new ball under fading light, he struck in the final over, removing Vishu Kashyap for a duck. With Chandigarh reeling at 0 for 1 and trailing by 351 runs, Deshpande’s script for Day 3 is simple: return to the Wankhede and repeat his 1st innings heroics to wrap up an innings victory for Mumbai.

- By Anubhav Talukdar