'Run-up to the World Cup is going to be really entertaining' - Aakash Chopra after Deepak Hooda's heroics in Ireland

Indian batting all-rounder Deepak Hooda put up a brilliant show on display during the second T20I against Ireland at the Malahide Cricket Club Stadium in Dublin on Tuesday. He amassed a century and finished off his innings with the bat, scoring an incredible 104 off 57 deliveries. With this achievement, he became India’s fourth batter to score a T20I ton.

Fans raced to social media to voice their support for Hooda, who has been in terrific form since the IPL 2022. He represented the new franchise Lucknow Super Giants and stood up to the expectations of skipper KL Rahul and mentor Gautam Gambhir. His efforts earned him a place in the Indian squad as he continued his supremacy and batted tremendously in both the games.

What a phenomenal rise it’s been for Deepak Hooda: Sanjay Manjrekar

Becoming the highest run-scorer in the two-match series against Ireland, Hooda has left a mark on the selectors and has emerged as one of the contenders for a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad, that will travel to Australia later this year. Meanwhile, Hooda also earned appreciation from former Indian players and cricket pundits Aakash Chopra and Sanjay Manjrekar who expressed their views on the player on Twitter.

“Deepak Hooda owned this series. Totally. And he happens to be the man who’s not got enough chances but how do you accommodate him when the senior guys are back? Run-up to the World Cup is going to be really entertaining,” Chopra expressed.

Deepak Hooda owned this series. Totally. And he happens to be the man who’s not got enough chances…but how do you accommodate him when the senior guys are back? Run-up to the World Cup is going to be really entertaining…

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 28, 2022

“What a phenomenal rise it’s been for Deepak Hooda! Unique way of creating opportunities for big-hitting. Steps out at the last second to surprise the seam bowlers. Ends up hitting boundaries off good balls bowled in the stumps. Nightmare for bowlers,” Manjrekar tweeted.

What a phenomenal rise it’s been for Deepak Hooda! Unique way of creating opportunities for big hitting. Steps out at the last second to surprise the seam bowlers.Ends up hitting boundaries off good balls bowled in the stumps.Nightmare for bowlers! #INDvIRE

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 28, 2022

Meeanwhile, Hooda also scored an unbeaten 47 (29) in the first game to lead India to a win while chasing in the first T20I, and then followed it with a century in the next game to keep the scoreboard ticking as India posted 225 runs in 20 overs. With the T20 World Cup approaching, it is going to be a tough task for the selectors to name the squad as the team is filled with talented and deserving players.