Cricket

The Ranji Trophy, India's premier domestic cricket tournament, has been embroiled in a fresh controversy involving star Indian cricketer Deepak Hooda. Hooda, who captains the Rajasthan team, has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with certain selection decisions, leading to a tense situation within the team.According to a report in Sportstar, Hooda skipped a practice session on the eve of Rajasthan's match against Hyderabad in Jaipur. Sources close to the team revealed that there have been ongoing disagreements between Hooda, the ad hoc selection panel, and the coaching staff over player selection."This has been an issue since the start of the season," a source said. "There have been multiple disagreements over player selection between the ad hoc panel and the captain and coach. However, yesterday, things got a bit out of control as the captain, although he came for the practice session, continued to sit out. He was constantly on his phone, busy on calls with the ad hoc committee members and the Sports Minister (Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore)."The report also claimed that an ad hoc committee member threatened to resign over the selection dispute. The ad hoc panel is headed by Jaideep Bihan, with Ratan Singh as the convener and Pawan Goyal, Dharmveer Singh Shekhawat, and Harish Singh as members.Dharmveer Singh Shekhawat, a member of the ad hoc panel, defended the committee's decisions. "These things happen when there are a number of people trying to make a decision," he said. "The more the heads, more the opinions. It isn't wrong and it is not a controversy. The captain wanted wicketkeeper-batter Kunal Singh Rathore to continue despite the fact that he hasn't performed for a while now. He has hit only one fifty in his last three games."The controversy has cast a shadow over Rajasthan's Ranji Trophy campaign. The team has won two of its first three matches but has now been rocked by internal strife. It remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved and whether it will impact Rajasthan's performance in the tournament.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has consistently proven to be a breeding ground for exceptional cricketing talent in India. This season, the spotlight has shone brightly on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Swapnil Singh and Lucknow Super Giants' Deepak Hooda, both of whom have faced significant challenges in their domestic careers.Swapnil and Hooda, who represent Baroda in domestic cricket, have reportedly endured numerous issues within the team, particularly with skipper Krunal Pandya. Hooda's struggles with the captain have been well-documented in the Indian cricketing fraternity.However, the duo's impressive performances in the IPL have caught the attention of fans and former players alike. A social media user recently expressed gratitude to former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan for his support during their cricketing crisis at Baroda."Thank you so much @IrfanPathan saab, for helping players like Deepak Hooda and Swapnil Singh who were facing so many problems in Baroda cricket team because of their Captain - Krunal Pandya. The fans of Indian Cricket will not forget your contributions," the fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).Pathan responded to the post, acknowledging the players' hard work and determination. "They were working hard when no one was watching. It's their positive attitude and persistence took them where they are," he said.This season, Swapnil has emerged as a reliable bowler for RCB, claiming 6 wickets in 6 matches while also contributing as a handy lower-order batter. Hooda, on the other hand, had a slow start to the 17th edition of the IPL but has since found his rhythm, scoring 145 runs in 9 innings at an average of 18.13.Pathan's role as a mentor and guide in Indian cricket has been instrumental in the development of young players. He has consistently provided support and guidance to emerging cricketers, helping them unlock their true potential.

Lucknow Super Giants' Jonty Rhodes Pokes Fun at Deepak Hooda for Dropped CatchLucknow Super Giants (LSG) fielding coach Jonty Rhodes couldn't resist a playful dig at all-rounder Deepak Hooda after he dropped a crucial catch in their IPL 2024 match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday.Despite LSG's clinical bowling performance that restricted CSK to 176/6, Hooda's misjudgment in the 17th over gifted Ravindra Jadeja a six and CSK six extra runs.After the match, Rhodes presented the Magic Mic award, given to the best fielder in the team after every LSG game, to Hooda. However, Rhodes' decision was more ironical than anything, as he hilariously claimed that Hooda deliberately dropped the catch to prevent MS Dhoni from facing more deliveries."I think it was a smart decision by birthday boy Deepak Hooda to let the ball go for a six, so that meant Dhoni didn't come out for another five balls," Rhodes said in a video uploaded by LSG.The entire dressing room erupted in laughter, and Hooda took the joke sportingly.Dhoni, who came to bat in the 18th over after Moeen Ali's dismissal, played an unbeaten cameo of 28 from nine balls, slamming two sixes and three boundaries.Despite the dropped catch, LSG's clinical bowling performance in the middle overs, led by Shivam Dube's three-wicket haul, restricted CSK's scoring.Openers Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul set up the chase for LSG with a superb 134-run partnership. De Kock hit a 43-ball 54 while Rahul smashed an incredible 82 runs off 53 balls.LSG achieved the target with an over to spare, securing their third win of the season.

Lucknow Super Giants' Fielding Coach Jonty Rhodes Lauds Deepak Hooda's 'Clever Thinking' in Dropping Catch to Keep MS Dhoni OutIn a surprising move, Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) fielding coach Jonty Rhodes awarded the 'best fielder' award to Deepak Hooda for a dropped catch during the team's victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2024.While attempting to catch an aerial hit by Ravindra Jadeja at the long-on fence, Hooda could only manage to tip it over the bar, resulting in a six. However, Rhodes praised Hooda's effort, explaining that it prevented MS Dhoni from entering the game as the next batsman."Fielding award is not just about brilliant performances, fielding is about awareness," Rhodes said in a video posted by LSG. "In the yellow team (Chennai) they have this guy MSD. He is striking it at 400 strike rate. I think it was a real smart decision by birthday boy Deepak Hooda to let the ball go for six. That meant Dhoni didn't come up for another five balls."Rhodes's analysis was spot on, as Dhoni, when he eventually came in, bludgeoned 28 runs off just 9 balls, including two sixes and three fours."That is magical! So the award goes to Deepak Hooda," Rhodes concluded before presenting Hooda with the award.Rhodes's decision highlights the importance of situational awareness in fielding. By preventing Dhoni from facing more deliveries, Hooda's dropped catch ultimately contributed to LSG's victory.