MS Dhoni's CSK use first 'Impact Player' in IPL history, replace Rayudu with Tushar Deshpande in opener vs GT

Tushar Deshpande etched his name in Indian Premier League history as the first impact player to be used in the tournament during the IPL 2023 opener.

The 2023 Indian Premier League began with huge fanfare on Friday night as Gujarat Titans took on the Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad, and the latter were the first team to use an ‘impact player’ in the tournament when they brought on Tushar Deshpande to replace Ambati Rayudu in the XI. The ‘Impact Player’ rule is the newest addition to the T20 league under which a team can nominate five players, of which one can be substituted into the lineup depending on the match situation.

Hardik Pandya (L) with MS Dhoni(Indian Premier League Twitter)

The impact player was used by CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni before the start of the Gujarat Titans innings. Following the first wicket of Titans' innings, their captain Hardik Pandya also used the Impact Player as they brought on Sai Sudharsan to replace an injured Kane Williamson. The New Zealand star seemingly picked a knee injury while trying to attempt a catch during the CSK innings; he was rushed off the field straightaway.

The Super Kings posted a strong total of 178/7 in 20 overs, with Ruturaj Gaikwad being the top-scorer for the side (92 off 50 deliveries). Captain Dhoni also played a little cameo towards the end of the innings, as he smashed a six and a four in the final over to score an unbeaten 14 off 7 deliveries.

Titans' trump card in the innings was Rashid Khan, who was introduced in the powerplay and as he often does, got the wicket that his team was looking for by getting the dangerous-looking Moeen Ali caught behind on 23 off 17 balls.

Rashid's second over saw him getting rid of England Test captain Ben Stokes, who too was caught by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, leaving CSK at 70 for three. Even with the flurry of wickets, Gaikwad stayed strong at the crease as he kept getting the boundaries. He welcomed Alzarri Joseph into the attack by smashing him for three sixes in the eighth over.

Titans did well to stem the flow of runs in the middle overs and got the wicket of Ambati Rayudu. Shivam Dube struggled to find the big hits and that put pressure on Gaikwad who was caught in the deep in the 17th over and missed out on a deserving hundred.