OPINION
Follow Us14 months ago, April 13, 2021, was perhaps one of the worst days for Deepak Hooda. In a letter to the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA), he expressed a serious concern and then stepped out of the bio-bubble, putting his entire cricketing career on the risk. He was later suspended by Baroda and that led to this entire long route of redemption.
Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rohit and Deepak Hooda, in that order. On Tuesday (June 28), Hooda became just the third Indian batter to score a century in T20Is. Over the last 14 months, several detractors were right in front of Hooda, in front of a man with one mission: resurrecting his career.
But it isn’t all about the century here against Ireland. In fact, for most, this century is perhaps only further elucidating his talent. Hooda is a complete package, an anchor when his side needs, an aggressor when the situation demands and an all-rounder during the toughest time. The 27-year-old has gone from being a flashy cricketer, a bits-and-piece of a cricketer, an IPL flop (as critics termed) to becoming Mr. Dependable.
Enter the Ireland tour.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is injured. While it wasn’t clear until Hardik Pandya cleared it out in the post-match presentation, the Indian management had to take a call. The call that demanded a player to move to the top of the order and India’s designated No.3, Hooda had to now open.
109 in 12 overs, with Ishan Kishan attacking, Hooda had the perfect seat for the box office. But all of a sudden, the non-striker becomes the protagonist. And when the clash had concluded, he was Ireland’s antagonist.
The road to redemption saw Hooda move to Rajasthan: smack 294 runs during 2022 SMAT in just six clashes, score 451 runs for his new IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants. Hooda has been in India’s radar since a long time but he wasn’t in demand. He wasn’t sought after like he was at the start of the year.
In fact, Hooda wouldn’t have even made it to India’s second-choice XI back then. So, what has worked out for the all-rounder in the last few seasons?
Hooda’s versatility
As the Ireland series showed it in the truest form, Hooda’s versatility is one of the biggest reasons for his continued selection. Just two nights ago, the right-hander was slotted at the top of the order and walked back to the hut without being dismissed, having done the job. That kind of sets pace to the second T20I.
“I am coming from a good IPL, I was trying to follow up the same performance here as well. I like playing aggressively. Batting up the order, I have the time, I try to play according to the situation,” Hooda said at the post-match presentation.
But in reality, since the start of the year, Hooda has batted in 17 innings, ranging from opening the innings, batting at No.3, 4, 5 and playing one knock at No.6. Whenever he’s walked out at either No.3 or No.4, the pattern has remained the same. He goes about things slowly up front, striking at just 124.44 in first ten balls, to striking at 184 during 21-30 ball phase.
Across all innings where has come out at No. 3 or 4, he’s never been dismissed this year, striking at 142.11 in that phase. While all of this has culminated into his efforts on Tuesday. On a surface that had 446 runs on offer, Hooda’s 104 had a separate fan base. It was the first time he married brute force and skilful touch in an Indian jersey.
35 of his 104 had come off Conor Olphert’s bowling, but barring Joshua Little and Mark Adair, Hooda took on every bowler in the Irish ranks. Against Andy McBrine, the right-hander struck at 350, sending a shockwave at the venue, with the crowd buzzing behind the all-rounder.
Hooda, India and the plane to Australia
Despite the carnage of the bowlers, Hooda wasn’t called for by skipper Hardik Pandya with the ball. But that won’t be the case in Australia if the all-rounder has to push for a place. However, Hooda will still be on that plane to Australia. In fact, he is one of the few rare all-rounders in the country, who could bowl off-spin.
Unlike last T20 World Cup, where India had to rely on Ravichandran Ashwin’s primary skills as a bowler, this showdown event in Australia would be starkly different. Hooda’s secondary skills might ultimately be the decider if he should feature in the playing XI during the competition.
In hindsight, no batter should be compared with another but if there was a selection conundrum, Hooda’s three-dimensional ability could be the ultimate tie-breaker. But this knock shouldn’t make him a sure-shot starter.
