Deepak Hooda, an all-rounder for Team India, has been in and out of the Indian white-ball selection despite being a member of the squad for a long time. He participated in just one game during the T20 World Cup, that too batting at No. 6 against South Africa in Perth. Hooda is forced to bat at No. 6 or No. 7 positions because Hardik Pandya bats at No. 5 and doesn’t have a chance to bat in the top four due to a traffic jam at the top. When questioned about his ideal position ahead of the third T20I against New Zealand, all-rounder Robin Hooda responded that he would love to bat at No. 5, saying that he needed to be realistic because Virat Kohli already held down that spot.
Hooda said to Amazon Prime Video, “I would like to bat at 5, we have a legend [Kohli] playing at 3 and I have to be realistic, I can’t get that spot (smiles). It’s a problem at times to adapt to batting at 5 or 6, but I have done that role as I am a utility player and need to play according to the situation of the game.”
Even though Hooda didn’t specifically mention Kohli, everyone knew what he was getting at. Former Indian cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Ajit Agarkar have now argued that Hooda should have been free to express his preferences rather than holding back, regardless of who was occupying the position at the time. Kaif, in particular, claimed that Hooda ought to have stated his desire to succeed KL Rahul and that he intended to fill Kohli’s position because only with that mentality could he succeed.
About Deepak Hooda’s interview, former cricketer Mohammad Kaif said,
“Woh thoda atak gaye the, unko atakna nahi hai, unko bolna hai ki mujhe upar khelna hai. I want to do well for India, mujhe khelna hai. KL Rahul k jagah ana hai mujhe, Virat Kohli ko replace karna hai. Unko bolna padega, woh waha darr gaye thoda. Woh bol gaye top 3 nahi main neche hi theek hu. Unhe ghabrana nahi hai. Mujhe top three mein khelna hai, ye agar unki mansikta hogi toh hi unke liye faida hai. (He hesitated there, he shouldn’t do that. He should say ‘I want to bat higher up the order. I want to do well for India. I want to play in place of KL Rahul, I will replace Virat Kohli.’ He needs to say this without getting frightened. He can only do well for India if he has that sort of mindset).”
Also Read :After Trent Boult, Now This New Zealand Star Leaves The Central Cricket Contract Of His Country
Ajit Agarkar agreeing with Kaif added, “Woh kehna chahte the ki mujhe teen number khelna hai but socha nahi rehne dete hai. (He wanted to say that ‘I’d want to bat at No.3 but wasn’t able to).”
