Deepak Hooda has an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of 147.20 but still he struggles to find a place in India’s T20I lineup. He has been demoted down the order and been underused as a bowler despite being a sixth bowling option. In addition, he has an economy rate of 4.8 runs per over. Hooda will have a chance that he deserves a better role in India’s T20I side when he takes the field for KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
At the jersey launch event, Hooda expressed that he is just happy to get any role in India’s T20I side but if it were up to him, he would have batted in top order.
“Being a batsman I try to focus on the situation as you can only control the controllable and be prepared for what lies ahead. Personally I would like to bat in the top order but for the team I am ready to do the role what is expected of me,” Hooda told Sports Today on March 7.
Hooda made a mark in Dublin when he batted at no.3 and smashed his maiden T20I century against Ireland in just his third T20I appearance with the bat.
In the previous IPL season, Hooda was one of the reasons behind LSG’s success in their maiden season. The all-rounder scored 451 runs from 15 matches at an average of 32.21 including four half-centuries.
Hooda who has 24 wickets from 178 T20 appearances believes that he is sixth bowling option for India and LSG as well despite the latter being loaded with all-rounders.
“I have a feeling that I will get to bowl for LSG as I have been bowling well and working on it too. What I believe is that one should have the hunger to do well and learn and I have that and thus I feel I am headed in the right direction and it depends on the team if they let me bowl,” the 27-year-old said.
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