The landscape of social media is a tricky terrain, especially for sports personalities. Recently, Tushar Deshpande, Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) ace bowler, found himself at the receiving end of some Twitter banter. A fan called him a “RunMachine,” criticizing his economy rate in the ongoing IPL 2023. However, Deshpande’s sharp retort not only silenced the critic but also reignited the conversation around his performance this season.
Let’s start with the numbers. In 15 games, Deshpande has snatched 21 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of 9.77 and an average of 24.19. In fact, his best figures in a match stand at 3/45. While critics may argue about his economy, MS Dhoni, CSK’s iconic captain, sees it differently. He has vested immense trust in Deshpande, making him the go-to bowler, especially after injuries benched key players like Mukesh Choudhary and Kyle Jamieson.
It’s worth noting that most of Deshpande’s bowling has been during the powerplay and death overs. Furthermore, IPL 2023 has generally favored batsmen. Hence, an economy rate hovering close to 10 is not disastrous when seen in context.
Chennai Super Kings, under Dhoni’s skilled leadership, reached their 10th IPL final by defeating Gujarat Titans. During this crucial game, the team scored 172/7, with opening batsmen Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad contributing significantly. However, when Gujarat Titans chased, they fell short by 15 runs. Deshpande, despite being the most expensive bowler that night, secured the pivotal wicket of Rashid Khan.
Tushar Deshpande: From “RunMachine” Troll to IPL 2023’s Leading Wicket-Taker for CSK
After this match, a fan took to Twitter to voice his dissatisfaction with Deshpande’s performance. The tweet in Telugu implied that Deshpande consistently gives away 40 runs each match, labeling him a “RunMachine.” Deshpande’s response was swift and scathing. He challenged the Twitter user to take the field himself, insinuating that the critic wouldn’t even cross the boundary rope.
“Prathi match lo minimum 40 Runs isthadu ra veedu orey 😭😭 RunMachine 😭@TusharD_96 @ChennaiIPL” which translates to “He concedes minimum 40 runs in every match, RunMachine.“
To this, the triggered CSK seamer who shot back at the troll and posted: “Comment Only if you have the guts to step on to the field as a player yourself I bet you can’t even cross the Boundry rope.”
Comment Only if you have the guts to step on to the field as a player yourself 🙏 I bet you can’t even cross the Boundry rope . ✌️😊
— Tushar Deshpnde (@TusharD_24) May 23, 2023
What this episode highlights is the extreme scrutiny players endure, especially on platforms like Twitter. One subpar performance can overshadow an otherwise strong season. Fans often forget the pressures and variables these athletes manage each game.
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Nevertheless, the season wrapped up in style for both CSK and Deshpande. CSK went on to win the IPL title for the fifth time, defeating the very same Gujarat Titans in the final. Deshpande, who had been a revelation for the four-time champions throughout the season, shared in this triumph. His wicket count remained the highest within the CSK camp.
