Rajasthan batter Deepak Hooda is still pinching himself after he received a Team India call-up for the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies, 5 years after he was first included in the India squad in 2017-18.
India will play three ODIs and three T20Is against the West Indies in February with the 50-over matches to be played in Ahmedabad and the 20-over encounters in Kolkata.
Deepak Hooda has had a storied past year and a half as on the eve of the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy opener, Hooda had left the Baroda team’s bio-bubble after an alleged spat with India international and the team captain Krunal Pandya, which led to the Baroda Cricket Association suspending him for the entire season.
Hooda was part of the Indian squad for the last time in 2017-18, but could not break into the final eleven. But he said in an interview with Sportstar, that it was still hard to believe that he was once again on the cusp of wearing the Indian Blue jersey.
“It still hasn’t sunk in. The last year was certainly a roller-coaster, but with the help of Irfan bhai (Irfan Pathan), Yusuf bhai (Yusuf Pathan), and all the members of my family, I could overcome the odds and again dream big. It is difficult to describe the feeling in words, but for sure, this is one of the most rewarding moments.
It took me five years to get another opportunity. To be honest, ahead of every season, I thought that this time I would break into the team, but that never happened. But the last one year taught me that you have to wait for your opportunity,” Hooda told Sportstar.
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Hooda remained optimistic about his chances while preparing for the IPL where he played for Punjab Kings and credited Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan for helping him. He also credited PBKS coach Anil Kumble and former captain KL Rahul for keeping him motivated and confident.
“Irfan and Yusuf bhai deserve all the credit for helping me overcome the odds. Being a mentor, they taught me so many things and those lessons have actually helped me. Those days have made me a matured cricketer,” Hooda says.
“Anil sir had a significant role to play. He motivated me immensely during that phase. I had not played any domestic cricket last year, so it was not easy to get into the groove, but he gave me that confidence. To have the backing of a legend like him is a huge thing. On and off the field, KL Rahul has been a big inspiration. He always supported me and those things actually helped me boost my confidence during the IPL,” Hooda says.
Deepak Hooda then moved to Rajasthan and became the second-highest run-getter in the tournament, amassing 294 runs in six games in the latest edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2021-22.
The Rajasthan Cricket Association appointed him as the captain for the 2021-22 Vijay Hazare Trophy, a tournament in which he scored 198 in six matches - including a century against Karnataka.
He said: “Moving to Rajasthan was like a re-birth. It gave me a new lease of life and despite coming from a different State, I received a warm welcome and everybody - the teammates, the coaches - were very welcoming. They made me feel at home and they supported me in every sense. They allowed me to bat in my position and lead the team. It has been an incredible journey.”
(Sportstar inputs)
