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The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to kick off from March 28. So far, the schedule of only first 20 matches has been released due to state elections.
Ahead of the league, Rajasthan Royals` (RR) pacer Tushar Deshpande said that the standards are set high by star bowler Jasprit Bumrah. He also said his aim is to keep honing skills.
“The standards are very high, and that`s motivating. For me, it`s about improving step by step – working on my skills, staying fit, and understanding my game better. I just want to keep getting better and make the most of every opportunity I get,” he said.
He was retained by the Royals for the 2026 season, following his performance with them in the previous season.
The Maharashtra-born cricketer also feels Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ravindra Jadeja can make a big impact, and the team`s focus is to support each other.
“We have a very balanced and talented squad. There are quite a few players who can make a big impact, like Vaibhav and even with Jaddu coming back. As a group, we`re focused on supporting each other and performing together,” said Deshpande.
He signed off by saying that there is fresh energy in the group and he is excited to contribute to the team.
“I`m really looking forward to this season. Last year didn`t go as we expected, but that`s part of the game. There`s a fresh energy in the group this time, and I`m excited to contribute in whatever role the team requires,” the pacer concluded.
RR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign by playing a clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals: Full Squads
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar.
Rajasthan Royals: Ravindra Jadeja, Sandeep Sharma, Adam Milne, Donovan Ferreira (WK), Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, Tushar Deshpande, Sam Curran, Nandre Burger, Riyan Parag (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Sen, Ravi Bishnoi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sushant Mishra, Yudhvir Singh, Shubham Dubey, Vignesh Puthur, Aman Rao, Kwena Maphaka, Yash Punja, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ravi Singh (WK), Brijesh Sharma.
(With ANI Inputs)
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