NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings' Tushar Deshpande on Friday became the first cricketer to be used as an impact player of the Indian Premier League, when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to bring in the pacer in place of the batter Ambati Rayudu in the tournament opener against Gujarat Titans.
Asked to bat first, Dhoni-led CSK posted a competitive total of 178 for 7, riding on an impressive knock of 92 from opener Ruturaj Gaikwad at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad. Ruturaj smacked nine maximums and four fours during his whirlwind 50-ball knock.
