Team India registered a comprehensive victory against West Indies in the first T20I on Friday, July 29 at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. However, the team’s decision to exclude Deepak Hooda from the playing XI has come under scrutiny. Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has expressed his disagreement with the decision of the skipper Rohit Sharma and the Indian management.
Deepak Hooda has probably been in the form of his life. He has grabbed his opportunities with both hands so far. In six T20Is, the batting all-rounder has scored 205 runs at an average of 68.33 and a strike rate of 172.26. His run tally includes a century against Ireland in a T20I match last month for India.
However, in the first T20I against West Indies, India went ahead with Shreyas Iyer instead of Deepak Hooda. Shreyas failed to perform, as he got out for a duck in the first innings. Speaking on the expert panel of FanCode, Kris Srikkanth questioned India’s decision to exclude Hooda. He said,
“Where is Hooda? He did well in T20Is, He did well in ODIs as well. He is the guy who should be there. In T20 cricket, you need to understand that you need all-rounders. Batting all-rounders, bowling all-rounders, so more the all-rounders better for you.”
We don’t need Rahul Dravid’s thought, we need yours: K Srikkanth asks Pragyan Ojha’s opinion about Deepak Hooda’s exclusion
Former India cricketer Pragyan Ojha was also part of the expert panel on Fan code. When asked about Deepak Hooda’s exclusion, he tried to explain Rahul Dravid’s thought process behind the decision. He expressed that the Indian head coach believes in backing proven performers. Ojha said
 “Rahul Bhai believes that if a player performed for you first then play him and back him. Then you go ahead with the other options.”
K Srikkanth interrupted Pragyan Ojha in between and asked him for his opinion and not Rahul Dravid’s. “Rahul Dravid ka soch humko nahi chaiye. Aapka soch chaiye. Abhi chaiye. Abhi does. (We don’t need Rahul Dravid’s thought. We need yours. Right now. Give it now),” said Srikkanth.
Pragyan Ojha then expressed his opinion on Hooda’s exclusion and expressed that the batting all-rounder should have been part of the team. He said. “Hooda toh hona chaiye. Obviously, Hooda should be there”
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