Deepak Hooda received a maiden call-up for India's ODI squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies. The 26-year-old has spoken about the role of Pathan brothers - Irfan and Yusuf, in his career as he has played with them for the Baroda side, in the Indian domestic circuit.
Hooda was a part of India's T20 squad for the Nidahas Trophy in 2018 but he could not make his international debut then. The Haryana-born cricketer was the second-highest run-scorer in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, in 2021 with 294 runs in 6 matches at an average of 73.50.
Hooda's words
"People wondered and doubts crept in pretty often, but Irfan bhai always told me one line, ‘Apna time aayega’." Hooda said while taking to Indian Express.
The all-rounder said that both Irfan and Yusuf made him understand the importance of staying calm.
"I slowly got close to Irfan bhai and Yusuf (Pathan) bhai. They taught me to be calm, they made me realise the power of calmness. As a youngster it was natural to be restless and I was no exception. It was hampering my game. At times, I tried too hard. Tried to overdo things that weren’t needed," he added.
Hooda also shared how Irfan helped him with his training and preparation.
"I remember Irfan bhai telling me the importance of preparation and process. Doing the same thing over and over again, without expecting anything from anyone. So, be it the gym sessions, training at the nets and following a strict diet; I always maintained a good work ethic. It paid off," he recalled.
Playing for Rajasthan
Last year, Hooda parted ways with Baroda team and he started playing for Rajasthan in the domestic circuit. The move worked well for the hard-hitting all-rounder eventually.
“I saw the ups and downs and then everyone knows what happened in Baroda. I moved to another state last year. It was a new journey but Rajasthan welcomed me. All the hard work has paid off. I didn’t get an answer initially, why I was picked and why I was dropped.
"It was a challenging time. I wanted to know why I was not picked. I became desperate, desperate to be picked again and just wanted to be in the team,” he added.
