T20 Mumbai League: Deshpande's all-round heroics guide Maratha Royals to 25-run win over Bandra Blasters
Mumbai, June 6
Tushar Deshpande produced a sensational all-round performance to guide Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals to a 25-run victory over Bandra Blasters in the T20 Mumbai League 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
Tushar emerged as the difference-maker, first rescuing the Royals with an unbeaten 55 off just 25 balls before returning figures of 2/12 in three overs. His all-round effort proved decisive as the Royals successfully defended 203/8.
Chasing the target, the Blasters were led by their top order. Skipper Suved Parkar continued his fine form with 56 off 40 balls, his third half-century of the tournament, along with a century earlier in the season. Prateek Ravishankar provided early momentum with a brisk 47 off 22 deliveries along with Parkar, while Jay Jain added a quickfire 46 off 23 balls.
The trio kept Bandra in the hunt for most of the chase, but once they were dismissed, the innings quickly lost momentum. The middle and lower order failed to build on the platform, with eight batters managing single-digit scores as Bandra were bowled out for 178 in 17.5 overs, thanks to some quality bowling by the Royals.
Earlier, the Royals had slipped to 36/3 inside the first five overs after being asked to bat. Ayaz Khan (31) and Chinmay Sutar (31) made useful contributions but failed to convert their starts. With wickets falling regularly, Tushar played a brilliant rescue act, smashing six sixes in his unbeaten knock and sharing a crucial 73-run stand with Rohan Raje (28), lifting the Royals to a strong total.
Brief scores:
MSC Maratha Royals 203/7 in 20 overs (Tushar Deshpande 55 not out, Chinmay Sutar 31, Ayaz Khan 31; Om Keshkamat 2/28) beat Bandra Blasters 178 in 17.5 overs (Suved Parker 56, Prateek Ravishankar 47; Tushar Deshpande 2/12) by 25 runs.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Suved Parkar has been consistent throughout the tournament. Third fifty and a century already? That's impressive. But Bandra's middle order let them down badly — eight batters in single digits is just not acceptable at this level. They need to work on batting depth.
Wankhede Stadium always produces high-scoring thrillers. 203 is a massive total to chase, and Bandra almost pulled it off thanks to Parkar and Ravishankar. But Tushar Deshpande's spell turned the game. Cricket in Mumbai just hits different! 🇮🇳
T20 leagues are great for giving exposure to domestic players. I hope Tushar Deshpande gets noticed by the IPL scouts. With that all-round ability, he could be a valuable asset for any franchise. The future of Indian cricket looks bright! 💪🏏
Good win for Maratha Royals, but I think the fielding could have been better. At 203, you shouldn't let the opposition get so close. The bowlers saved the day, but the catching and ground fielding need improvement. Still, entertaining match overall!
Om Keshkamat with 2/28 was the best bowler for Bandra, but the rest of the attack leaked too many runs. Tushar Deshpande's counter-attack was brutal — six sixes in a T20 league match? That's power-hitting at its best. Royals look like strong contenders this season! 🏆
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