'X-factor of this match' - Twitter elated with Deepak Hooda making it to India's playing XI for Pakistan encounter

Sunday is set for another blockbuster as India and Pakistan lock horns again at the Asia Cup 2022, exactly a week after India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in their first game of the group stage. With Ravindra Jadeja being out now, India named Deepak Hooda in his place in the playing combination as the all-rounder is set to play his first game at the continental tournament.

The excitement level is always high whenever these two teams clash, but there are also concerns this time around as Ravindra Jadeja is out of the remainder of the tournament. The all-rounder played a crucial role when the two teams met last week and India will surely feel his absence. However, Hooda finally got his breakthrough in the tournament as India made three changes to their lineup from the previous game.

Deepak Hooda has been in good touch in the white-ball format ever since he got back into the Indian side after a successful IPL season. He bagged the Player of the Series award on the Ireland tour, where he smashed 47* and 104 in the two T20Is and took India to wins. His game against England and West Indies was decent, but he surely is a great fit for India’s middle order.

Hooda- India's Lucky Charm

Hooda has been India’s lucky charm as of now. Every game that he has played for India, across formats, ever since his debut, India has won it and the Indian cricket fans will now be hoping for his luck to work this time around as well. Hooda has been a part of 17 consecutive wins for India, as he achieved the unique feat when he played against Zimbabwe last month.

India is the only unbeaten team in the tournament so far. India won both the group stage games, and the Men in Blue will now be hoping for opening their Super Four account on a high. Apart from Hooda, India made two more changes in the lineup as Avesh Khan and Dinesh Karthik made way for Ravi Bishnoi and Hardik Pandya. Rishabh Pant will now don the gloves behind the stumps.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Deepak Hooda making into the side:

Smart selection by India. Hooda in to keep depth in batting plus the option of the 6th bowler. No DK, but Pant stays for the left handed element. 👍👍

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 4, 2022

Balls/match for Deepak Hooda:

First-class: 37
List A: 18
All T20: 5
IPL: 4

ODI: 19
T20I: 3

Balls. Not overs.

It is not how good or bad he is. It is about how much the captains have wanted him to bowl.

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) September 4, 2022

I see Deepak Hooda in the line up as well.. Interesting

— Sahar (@Sah_AraAra) September 4, 2022

Deepak hooda is x factor of this match#AsiaCupT20 #AsiaCup2022 #INDvsPAK #WINNER

— yash (@yash301558141) September 4, 2022

Hold on Guys...Deepak Hooda is playing today#INDvsPAK #INDvsPAK2022 #AsiaCupT20 #AsiaCup2022

— AB_Hi (@abhi_inthearc) September 4, 2022

Deepak Hooda for Jadeja and not Axar Patel - we are going batting heavy and we bat first.

It's going to be fireworks again at Dubai.#INDvsPAK

— Arvind Ramachander (@arvindia4u) September 4, 2022

Deepak Hooda back in Team baby

— Thala Dhoni (@mr_kaushu_10) September 4, 2022

Deepak Hooda Man of the match

— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) September 4, 2022

#INDvsPAK India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(w), Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh#Perfect winning combination 🇮🇳🇮🇳

— MANOHAR SINGH Rathore (@manoharsinghra1) September 4, 2022