- SportsTak

Deepak Hooda had made his debut for the Indian team in the first ODI against West Indies, in Ahmedabad, on February 6. And now the 26-year-old all-rounder has opened up on his feelings when he received the India cap from former India skipper Virat Kohli.

According to the Rohtak-born all-rounder, it was his “childhood dream to get cap from either MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli” and now it feels “amazing” to him after he got the cap from Kohli in the first ODI match of the series.

Hooda speaks

“I made my debut in the first ODI, it was an amazing feeling. You always work hard for that, before the match I spoke to you (Suryakumar Yadav). I feel blessed to be a part of the side.

“It was my childhood dream to get cap from either MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli. Getting the cap from Kohli was an amazing feeling. I worked on side lining the distraction and work on my process,” said Hooda in a video released on BCCI.tv.

In the first ODI of the series, Hooda scored an unbeaten 26 off 32 balls to help his side successfully chase the target of 177 runs.

Eventually the hosts reached the required total with 132 balls remaining and losing 4 wickets.

Special moment

While talking about his debut, Hood said it was “a very special and dream come true moment” for him to receive the cap from Kohli.

“Truly honoured and blessed on getting the opportunity to represent my country. A very special and dream come true moment for me to receive the cap from Virat Kohli bhaiya. Thank you to each and everyone involved in this wonderful journey,” Hooda said in a tweet.

In the second ODI of the series, he produced another significant all-round display after he scored 29 runs off 25 balls and later picked up the crucial wicket of Shamarh Brooks (44 runs off 64 balls).

Batting first, India had registered a total of 237 runs losing 9 wickets in 50 overs. In reply, the visitors could only reach a total of 193 runs. The hosts won back-to-back two matches to clinch the ODI series.