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India recently completed a two-match series win over Ireland, with the side led by Hardik Pandya securing both victories in a brilliant fashion while many of their main players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah were rested for the tour. Among the most impressive was Deepak Hooda, who shone for the side in both games, first smashing 47 in a rain-curtailed first T20I, and then smashing a century in the second T20I fixture.
Even Sanju Samson in addition to Hooda, have impressed many. Hooda finished the series with 151 runs under his belt, which included a blistering knock of 104 off just 57 balls, while Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson also produced an exceptional knock of 77 runs. In the second T20I against Ireland, the duo registered the highest T20I partnership for India by stitching together 176 runs.
Following the game, the duo were praised massively by Graeme Swann, who said that after the T20 World Cup, one or two spots might open up after the T20 World Cup with the Indian team wanting to build a team for the future and these two are knocking on the doors.
“They are knocking on the door and some would argue that there will be definitely up for grabs sooner rather than later. You got a couple of huge names that will come back into the reckoning for the World Cup - Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. But after the World Cup, I would not be surprised if one or two spaces really open up and there is no better way to stand up and scream ‘I want that spot’ than they batted tonight,” Swann was quoted as saying.
“Yes it is a small ground and the total can be taken with a little bit of a pinch of salt. But these shots that Hooda and Samson were playing, no matter how small the ground was, they were flying miles. They are world-class players,” the former England skipper added.
It is worth noting that India will play three T20Is against England and five against West Indies in the run-up to the T20 World Cup in Australia.
