Former cricketer Aakash Chopra think the beater is aggressive Deepak Hooda deserves a place in Team India T20I XI builds on his current form. Acknowledging that it would be difficult to get him into the starting lineup considering so many batting options, Chopra chose that form in the T20 to be far more important than other formats.
Hooda, 27, has been in great form in the few matches he plays for Team India. He scored 47 and 104 unbeaten in a two-match T20I series against Ireland in Dublin. In Virat Kohli’s absent, Hooda beat 33 of 17 in the first T20I against England.
Despite the great tempo, Hooda has to make way for Kohli in the remaining two T20I of the series. During a Q&A session on his YouTube channel, Chopra was asked if he felt Hooda deserved a spot in Team India’s T20I XI. He replied:
“With his current form, Deepak Hooda deserves a spot in T20I XI. There aren’t many better hitters than him at the moment. In my opinion, in the T20 cricket, form is much more important than experience. In terms of form, he entered the typical squad. “
However, he admits that the management will have to make a tough call if they want to include Hooda in the starting lineup in future T20I games. The 44-year-old man wondered:
“The big question is – who can he replace? I don’t know. KL Rahul will be back, Rishabh Pant is opening. So it will be a tough decision for Rahul Dravid et al.”
Replacing Hooda in 3rd place, Kohli struggled in the two T20I matches against England. He only sat out once in the second game and scored just 11 goals in the final game of the series.
“India could go on with Pant as the opener a little longer” – Aakash Chopra
During the Q&A session, Chopra also shared his views on Pant opening the rounds in the T20I match against England. He thinks India can keep testing until Rahul returns from injury. The tester who opened the test previously commented:
Also read
The story continues below
“Pant as an open device in the T20Is could work. There’s only one way he plays. But then where KL Rahul plays is the big question. Kohli bat will be another question. Can’t decide right now. India could continue with Pant as the opener for a bit longer, maybe until KL returns. Or who knows, even Virat might open. Seriously, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Pant scored 26 and 1 in the two matches he played in the T20I series against England.
