The Indian Premier League (IPL) has served as a platform to put some arguments to bed. The world’s biggest and most successful T20 franchise league attracts top players and some rising names from all across the globe. There is a chance for every player to prove their worth or further return to the national team duty through their impressive performances in the shortest format.
Such is the case of Mohammed Shami and Tushar Deshpande as they chase the purple cap for the most wickets in the IPL 2023. Shami, the Gujarat Titans’ pace spearhead, continues to mark his presence in the defending champions’ setup. He has scalped 17 wickets in nine matches for Gujarat Titans at an impressive average of 14.52 and an economy rate of 7.05. His best bowling figures of this season came against Delhi Capitals, returning figures of 4/11.
Shami’s run is special as he was overseen from the T20 setup for the national team with a fresh new set of players on the agenda for the Indian cricket board after their dismissal knock-out from the T20 World Cup 2022. In fact, he bowled at an economy rate of over 13 in India’s lackluster 10-wicket loss to England in the T20 World Cup 2022. It was also his last appearance in the shortest format for the national team after being included as a replacement for his fast-bowling compatriot Jasprit Bumrah.
Meanwhile, young Deshpande is knocking on the doors of the national team, picking up 17 wickets in 10 matches for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at an average of 21.76 and an economy rate of 10.77. He is not among the fastest bowlers in the IPL 2023, but his knack for bowling around the 135kmph mark and improving at the death has made him a handful in the CSK setup. He has picked up two three-wicket hauls so far.
Comparatively, Shami has a retention fee of INR. 6,25,00,000 for GT, while Deshpande makes INR. 20,00,000 per season for CSK. The veteran India fast bowler rakes up INR. 44,64,285 per match, while the dashing young Mumbai seamer makes INR. 142,857 every match. Shami earns INR. 43,21,428 more than Deshpande, but the prices are effective for both the franchise and players due to their individual experience and the value they bring.
The value of each wicket picked up by Shami in nine matches is INR. 23,63,445, while that of Deshpande is INR. 84,033.
It is quite clear by the comparison that CSK got a steal deal in Deshpande when the franchise bought him for his base price of INR. 20 lakh at the IPL 2022 mega auction and retained him for the ongoing season. He featured in only two matches for the four-time champions in the previous edition. But the CSK management has shown faith in the young bowler in the ongoing season, and it has paid dividends. He is likely to be retained further by the franchise and groomed in the near future.
Meanwhile, Shami will remain a go-to option for the national team after his fine success in the limited-overs and will be next seen in action for GT in the IPL 2023 on Friday.
