Dale Steyn has thrown his weight behind Rajasthan Royals seamer Tushar Deshpande, highlighting the composure and execution he showed in the last over against Gujarat Titans. The South Africa great believes Deshpande’s calm planning under pressure should put him firmly on India’s selectors’ radar as the 2026 IPL season gathers momentum.
Deshpande has made a strong start to the campaign for RR, producing a match-turning spell versus GT in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Rajasthan managed to defend 10 runs in the final over of a chase exceeding 200, turning a high-stakes moment into a platform for the youngster.
Steyn’s take on the final-over masterclass
- Dale Steyn praised Deshpande’s last-over bowling as “exceptional”.
- Steyn said Deshpande hit yorkers precisely under pressure and avoided giving Rashid Khan scoring chances.
- Steyn noted the bowler altered his approach, mixing yorkers with a length ball to bait Rashid into a bigger shot.
- Steyn added that the calm needed to execute plans in such situations is a rare skill.
- Steyn called it a game-sense display and suggested it could keep Indian selectors focused on Deshpande.
Explaining what stood out, Steyn said the final over bowled by Deshpande was of a very high standard. He pointed to the way the youngster landed his yorkers with accuracy, then shifted his line and length to limit any easy access to the boundary for Rashid Khan.
Steyn also described the pressure factor, saying it is extremely hard for a bowler to remain composed when so many things are going through the mind. In his view, Deshpande’s ability to carry out his plan without being rattled is what separates good death-over bowling from great death-over bowling.
The former fast bowler further underlined Deshpande’s tactical variation: after delivering four “inch-perfect” yorkers, he changed course by presenting a length ball. Steyn believes that decision pulled Rashid into attempting a bigger strike, which ultimately led to him getting caught near the boundary line.
Steyn finished by stressing that Deshpande’s fearless approach should ensure the Indian selectors do not lose sight of him this season. He framed the performance as proof that the young pacer can handle do-or-die situations with clarity and control.
Deshpande was acquired for Rs 6.50 crore and has quickly grown into a key role for Rajasthan. The praise now builds on earlier success as a leading wicket-taker, which helped pave the way for his India call-up in 2024 for a T20I series against Zimbabwe.
Rajasthan ultimately won the contest by six runs, and Steyn went as far as calling it the game of the season so far. In his assessment, the GT vs RR match stood out as a standout thriller in IPL 2026.
Why the match mattered for both teams
Steyn said GT will look back at the clash and wonder how many chances they had to take control, particularly as the season moves into the stage where playoff places are decided. He noted that while the match offered a pathway to victory, Gujarat did not manage to capitalize and the opportunity slipped away.
For Rajasthan, the win carried extra satisfaction because the contest swung right down to the last over. Steyn highlighted that their previous triumph over CSK did not require the same level of grind, but against GT they had to do “everything they could” to close out the chase.
Steyn also contrasted the present with the past, recalling that last season Rajasthan suffered a string of narrow defeats. He said they lost by small margins, missed chances to seal results, and struggled to convert key moments into wins. This season, though, he believes RR looks like a different side—more ruthless and better set to finish.
Meanwhile, former India batter Sanjay Bangar praised RR skipper Riyan Parag for the way he managed pressure and led the team to a second successive victory. Bangar said the task of captaining is never easy, especially when you have numerous bowling options but must still choose the right plan at the highest-pressure stage.
Bangar credited Parag for his captaincy in the GT match, pointing to the trust he placed in Deshpande for the final over. In Bangar’s view, when a skipper backs a bowler to handle a “do or die” over, the bowler must deliver—and Deshpande’s performance proved that the faith was justified.
He added that captains also have to motivate their bowlers when they’re asked to take on such a tough assignment. Bangar said Parag’s message and backing helped Deshpande absorb the pressure and produce what he described as the best over of Deshpande’s cricketing career.
Bangar concluded by saying that once a bowler receives that level of trust, it creates a special kind of confidence—one that can translate into fearless, high-quality execution when it matters most.
