Current teammates playing for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya have seemingly buried the hatchet after a well-publicised spat during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy when both players turned out for Baroda.
The situation was so tense that Hooda had to step out of Baroda’s bio-bubble after alleging that the elder Pandya brother was trying to pull him down. Also, he warned him that he would ensure he does not play for Baroda again. Hooda then left Baroda to join Rajasthan.
Cut to almost a year later, and the duo are now responsible for the current and possibly future successes of new IPL franchise LSG. Hooda has also admitted to the same, while addressing Krunal as his 'brother'.
“Krunal Pandya is like my brother, and brothers do fight. We are playing with one aim, which is to win games for LSG,” Hooda told Dainik Jagran in an interview.
During the IPL mega auction held earlier this year, Hooda was sold to LSG for Rs 5.75 crore, while Krunal was bought for a whopping Rs 8.25 crore by the Lucknow-based franchise.
When asked about his reaction upon learning that he was sharing the dressing room with Pandya in the IPL, Hooda commented, “I was not watching the IPL auction. We met just like the other players at the team hotel. Whatever happened is in the past, and as I said, we both are playing for the same team and our goals, too, are the same.”
Deepak Hooda ODI debut
Hooda made his ODI debut against West Indies at home, and his T20I debut against Sri Lanka. In IPL 15, the all-rounder has been in top form with the bat, hitting two fifties - a 41-ball 55 against Gujarat Titans (GT) followed by a 33-ball 51 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Meanwhile, Krunal is chipping in with his all-round skills, scoring an unbeaten 21 off just 13 balls against GT. He also dismissed his brother and the Titans' skipper Hardik Pandya in the same match. Krunal played exceptionally well with the ball against SRH, recording impressive figures of 2/27 and stemming Hyderabad's run chase.
The Super Giants will now face Delhi Capitals on Thursday at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai for their next match in a bid to move up the points table.
