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'Two years ago, he wondered if his India cap would ever come': Pathan says 27-year-old talent 'can achieve a lot more'
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan cannot be prouder of what the 27-year-old has achieved for his country in the limited opportunities that he has gotten.
One of the most unique features about the Indian cricket team at the moment is its depth. With as many as 40 quality players available at their arsenal, India is at a stage where it can field two to three different teams. Do not look too far back. Just think of the Indian team that won the T20I and ODI series in England and one that is currently playing in the West Indies. Both wear a totally different look. It is because of this depth that almost all fringe players are able to regularly feature in India's Playing XI. With the 2023 World Cup possibly being the last for seniors Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, Team India is already shaping the future.
One of the many bright and upcoming prospects for Indian cricket is Deepak Hooda, who has recently played a few breath-taking knocks. Besides his occasional noteworthy performances in IPL, Hooda wasn't a household name until a year ago. But the right-handed batsman is hogging the limelight these days. There is a lot that went on behind the scenes for Hooda, away from the media glare. He toiled hard for a place in the National Cricket Team, and while he was on it, one pillar of support he always fell back on was former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan.
Pathan has hailed the coming of age of Hooda and described him as late bloomer. While highlighting the possibility of Hooda doing great for India in coming years, he has backed the young all-rounder to have plenty of good years at the international level.
"Two years ago, Hooda himself wondered if the India cap would come. Today, he is a shining example of someone who has proved if you accept your shortcomings and make a conscious effort in working on it, that's half the battle won. I am excited at what he can possibly offer to the Indian team. He's just 27. If he offers India six-seven good years, he has the potential to achieve a lot more," Pathan told ESPNCricinfo.
The year 2022 has been remarkable for Hooda as he made his ODI and T20I debuts for India. Hooda hit his first century for India in the recently held series against Ireland and scored an explosive 33 in the 1st T20I against England. The impact was such that when Hooda had to make way for Kohli in the 2nd T20I, some experts raised eyebrows.
Hooda's fairytale began with great performances in domestic cricket. While playing for Rajasthan, he scored a gritty century against Karnataka in pre-quarter final of the Vijay Hazare trophy. The knock grabbed eyeballs in social media as fans hailed it as Baroda's loss (Baroda was his earlier team). In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, Hooda scored the second highest runs by a player.
Pathan helped the youngster Hooda in plugging loopholes. Although IPL helped him realise his dream of playing for the national colours, Pathan played a big role in fine-tuning Hooda's technique and gain confidence to deliver at the big stage. Pathan would watch videos of him batting, spot the flaws and then help him resolve them. And today, as Hooda is quickly climbing up the ladder, Pathan couldn't be prouder.
"I told him, if you are playing and training expecting something in return, it's never going to work. You have to train your mind in a way where you're giving your best without expecting anything in return. If something comes your way, great. Else, keep at it," Pathan added.
"His off-side play was a bit of a hindrance. He needed to keep his hands relaxed and not jab. His hands needed to be more fluid. And when he started playing with loose hands, he could access different parts of the ring. We also made adjustments to his stance, depending on the format. He worked on using the crease to maximise scoring opportunities in different areas, hitting boundaries along the ground by finding gaps - we simulated all of this."
