The two players once and for all crushed the talks of potential animosity between them as teammates for Lucknow Super Giants in Indian Premier League 2022 after a heartening moment where they were seen hugging each other.
The moment warmed the hearts of millions of fans glued to their sets for the Super Giants’ season opener against their fellow newbies Gujarat Titans on March 28 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The two cricketers hugged after the fall of Titans’ first wicket in the run-chase when Hooda took a catch on the outfield to help dismiss opposition batter Shubman Gill for a duck.
To celebrate the wicket, present nearest to him, was Krunal, who in the moment of excitement was seen giving the tightest of hugs to the Baroda cricketer. A clip of the fond moment went viral over social media not long after Krunal was seen applauding his teammates’ efforts and holding him up.
Gill’s dismissal, brought about off the bowling of LSG speedster Dushmantha Chameera, also gave the KL Rahul led side an ideal start to their defence of a less-than-ideal score of 158/6. Eventually, though, the Titans’ reached the 159-run target with five wickets intact and a pair of deliveries left in the proceedings.
Hooda and Krunal emerged as LSG’s two stand-out performers in either skill. The former shined bright in the game’s first half, where his critical knock of 55 off 41 balls helped the side recover from deep waters and post a fighting total on the board. Hooda arrived at the crease when the Giants were reeling at 29/4, but his partnership with young Ayush Badoni (54) took the game back to the opposition.
Krunal ended as LSG’s best bowler on the night, finishing with figures of one for 17 off his four overs. The left-arm spinner kept a tight leash on the run-scoring through the middle-overs, where he also bagged the prized scalp of Titans’ skipper and his brother Hardik Pandya. Earlier in the game, he had contributed a useful cameo of 21 runs off 13 balls, including three fours.
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While their efforts were not good enough to secure victory for LSG, the allround duo from Baroda would be delighted to have performed and contributed for their side and earn themselves momentum for the rest of the campaign.
They weren’t expected to get such a fine start. Not because there are any doubts about their skills but a sense of hesitation that may have persisted between the duo after their fall out in the Baroda camp last year. Many felt LSG had made a mistake by bringing them together under one roof again. But the duo showed fantastic spirit and mended ways to combine forces against the Titans.
The fall-out between them came to light in January 2021 when Hooda accused Krunal of abusing him and behaving inappropriately against him. The cricketer even walked out of the bio-bubble in place for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, stating his mental health has been taken for a hit because of that incident. Reports are that the mishap between the players took place during a net session where the former indulged in alleged misbehaviour against his deputy as Baroda skipper.
Hooda then finished his career with Baroda and joined Rajasthan for the following season of Indian domestic cricket, which further fuelled the suggestion of a never-ending rift with Krunal. But it seems the LSG think-tank has ensured they meet eye to eye and play in the right headspace again with each other.
