Aakash Chopra praised the team India Batsman Deepak Hooda grabbed the opportunity with a match-winning innings in the first T20I against Ireland. Hooda, who has been named as the middle-order batsman, was asked to open the innings after Ruturaj Gaikwad swallowed it. Hooda, who didn’t get a chance in the T20I series against South Africa, took full advantage of the big opportunity in the starting position as he smashed an unbeaten 47 off 29 balls to help India seal a 7-wicket win.
The 27-year-old also presented his strong claim for T20 World Cup Squad. He hit 2 sixes and six fours in his innings.
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Chopra said Hooda’s batting style is a bit different but it doesn’t matter that he is scoring runs and winning matches for his team.
Deepak Hooda got a chance to open. Hooda on fire, well done. He batted very well. His style of play is a bit different, his stance is wide, he is not pleasing to the eye but it doesn’t matter. The painting should be beautiful, the batting should be one that scores runs, remains unbeaten at the end, which is a big deal in my opinion,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
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Hooda made his international debut earlier this year in ODIs against West Indies, where he played some important innings. He was also included in the T20I series against Sri Lanka where he got only one chance to bat and scored 21 runs off 16 balls.
Chopra lauded the all-rounder performance of stand-in captain Hardik Pandya, who took a quick 24 off 12 balls to shift the momentum in India’s favor after losing the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav. The flamboyant all-rounder hit three sixes as Chopra said he has swag when he adds big shots.
“Suryakumar Yadav has come and gone. Short innings from Hardik Pandya, once again he batted well, hit decently. He gets out but Hardik Pandya is looking as good as gold. If the bowling keeps getting better, so will the player. He has swag when he hits a six. ,
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