Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has backed Deepak Hooda to be in contention for India’s T20 World Cup 2022 plans, and hoped for the all-rounder to get a chance in the upcoming two-match series in Ireland.
Hooda enjoyed his best-ever Indian Premier League campaign on an individual front this year, aggregating 451 runs at 32.21 while maintaining a strike-rate of 136.67 in Lucknow Super Giants’ run to the playoffs. His previous best aggregate in an IPL season was 160, for the Punjab Kings in the 2021 edition.
The all-rounder has also been excellent in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021/22, with 294 runs at 73.50 and a strike-rate of 168 for Rajasthan. He was a part of India’s squad for the recently concluded five-match home T20I series against South Africa, but didn’t get a game.
Earlier this year, he’d made his T20I debut in the home series against Sri Lanka, and scored 21 off 16 in the only innings he batted.
In a select media interaction conducted by Sony Sports Network, Manjrekar said that Hooda will get a chance in India’s upcoming two-match series in Ireland, given his recent exploits.
“I am expecting him to get a look in this (Ireland) series because I thought we saw the best of Deepak Hooda in this last IPL. He has been around for a long time and you have seen sporadic sort of displays of his work and his ability. The last IPL, he came of age.”
He also emphasised the value of Hooda’s all-round skills, adding that his off-breaks make him an extremely useful player.
“India need somebody like him down the order, it’s a very difficult job and Hood did a terrific job in the IPL. He is somebody that India will I am sure look at. If they would not have been part of their plans, so I am hoping that the guys who did really well in that series against South Africa then rested and start looking at these people and give them a long rope.”
The two Ireland-India T20Is will be played in Dublin on June 26 and 28, respectively.
