JAIPUR: Baroda all-rounder Deepak Hooda is all set to join Rajasthan for the upcoming domestic season 2021-22. The dashing middle-order batsman, who plays for Punjab Kings in the IPL, has received the NOC from the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA).
Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has scheduled a three-week conditioning camp starting from July 19, and Hooda is a part of the 48-player squad the association announced on Thursday. The camp will be held at the RCA Academy.
The move to switch is on expected lines as things turned sour between Hooda and Krunal Pandya during the last domestic season, when the former had alleged that the latter ‘misbehaved’ with him and used ‘abusive language in front of team-mates’. Following the incident, Hooda had left the preparatory camp for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Consequently, the BCA had suspended Hooda in January for the entire domestic season ‘for indiscipline and bringing disrespect to the BCA and the game’.
The 26-year-old right-hand batsman made his first-class debut in 2014 and has played 46 matches, scoring 2,908 runs that includes nine hundred and 15 fifties. Hooda, who bowls right-arm off-spin, has taken 20 wickets in first-class matches.
Expressing his disappointment on how things ended up in the Baroda team, former India pacer Irfan Pathan tweeted, “How many cricket association will lose out on a player who is in the Indian team probables list? Deepak Hooda leaving baroda cricket is a huge loss. He could have easily given his services for another ten years as he is still young. As a Barodian It’s utterly disappointing!”
Having the all-rounder in the squad is bound to add strength to the fragile batting line-up of Rajasthan. RCA president Vaibhav Gehlot said that the inclusion of Hooda will motivate others in the team and added, “it will boost both the batting and bowling department.”
