Hooda reveals promise as potential spin bowling all-rounder

Deepak Hooda was introduced into the assault within the tenth over, ostensibly as a partnership-breaker. West Indies had made a buzzing begin after successful the toss as Kyle Mayers took the assault to the Indian seamers, particularly ODI debutant Avesh Khan, proper from the outset. Shardul Thakur conceded 13 runs in his first over. Even Shai Hope, normally a gradual starter, was exhibiting intent.

Hooda’s first ball stopped a bit on Mayers and the batsman chipped again a straightforward return catch. The bowling change labored. In the grand scheme of issues, the best way Hooda bowled on this sport, he provided encouragement, with an eye fixed to the 50-over World Cup in India subsequent yr.

A second spin-allrounder will probably be a part of the enjoying eleven in Indian situations and Hooda is exhibiting potential to be developed into one.

In the primary ODI two days in the past, he was used as a filler, bowling 5 overs and conceding 22 runs in a high-scoring sport. On Sunday, within the second ODI, he bowled effectively sufficient to get 9 overs, in two spells. His first spell learn: 6-0-23-1 and his second: 3-0-19-0. Yet once more, he went beneath 5 runs per over, at Queen’s Park Oval, a floor that has comparatively smaller boundaries. Credit to Shikhar Dhawan for utilizing him effectively.

Caught and bowled on the primary ball! Good spin assault from @HoodaOnHearth dismissing #KyleMayers.

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Hooda is just not an enormous turner of the ball. But he bowls tight, stump-to-stump, and bowls to his area. Occasionally, he isn’t afraid to present the ball a little bit of air. And on Sunday, he reacted effectively, when the batsmen tried to take him on. His ninth over was a working example. Nicholas Pooran, effectively set by then, launched him over long-off for a six. The West Indies captain was prepared to chop free. But Hooda responded effectively with a few dot balls. He dragged again the size slightly, bowled straighter and didn’t permit the batsman to free his arms.

Hooda has already introduced his arrival in T20Is, as a batsman, scoring 205 runs in six video games, together with a century, at a strike price of 172.26. It wowed the followers to the extent of criticising the group administration on social media, when he was dropped to accommodate Virat Kohli within the T20Is in England. In the 50-over format, Hooda has been given the position of a finisher, at No. 6. He appeared a tad uncomfortable within the first ODI, scoring 27 off 32 balls. But batting at No. 6 is a tough job in white-ball cricket and it takes time to get into the groove.

Hard-hitting is Hooda’s forte. If he chips in with some overs of tight off-spin, the 27-year-old generally is a critical possibility for the second spin-allrounder’s slot, enjoying alongside Ravindra Jadeja. It’s early days, however there’s a participant who may be groomed to emulate Yusuf Pathan’s position on the 2011 World Cup, with the subsequent 50-over showpiece nonetheless greater than a yr away. As rotation has turn out to be the order of the day in Indian cricket, Hooda has emerged as a constructive.

Pathan was fairly efficient throughout India’s 2011 World Cup-winning marketing campaign, providing depth and stability. After that, Kedar Jadhav performed that position for a interval. At the second, Axar Patel is Jadeja’s back-up by way of left-arm spin, however he isn’t a real all-rounder. Hooda is actually a batsman, who can be utilized up the order and in addition on the loss of life. His presence provides the group the required flexibility. Quite a bit, although, will rely upon how he shapes up within the subsequent few months, however perhaps, the group administration can take into consideration giving him a couple of video games at a stretch, even after the large weapons return.

The second seam-allrounder, past Hardik Pandya, stays an space of concern nevertheless. Thakur is being utilized in that position on this sequence, however the medium pacer is leaking runs, though he has a knack of taking wickets. In the primary ODI, he took the essential wickets of Shamarh Brooks and Mayers in fast succession, however gave away 54 runs in eight overs.

On Sunday, he returned with 3/54 from seven overs, as West Indies posted 311/6. Hope laid the muse with 115 off 135 balls in his one centesimal ODI. Pooran scored 74 off 77 deliveries. The Caribbeans have misplaced seven ODIs on the spin and are desperately searching for course correction.

Brief scores: West Indies 311/6 (Shai Hope 115, Nicholas Pooran 74; Shardul Thakur 3/54)