T20 World Cup: Deepak Hooda Will Be Sixth Bowler For India in World Cup - Irfan Pathan

The BCCI has announced the 15-man Indian squad for the T20 World Cup starting October 16 in Australia and Deepak Hooda’s name is also included in it. The T20 World Cup will start on October 16 and the final match will be held on November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Former fast bowler Irfan Pathan feels that India should play Deepak Hooda from the beginning in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The young batsman has done well in recent times after making his debut for India this year. He also scored his first T20 century during India’s tour to Ireland this year, which helped him secure a regular spot in the Indian T20 lineup.

Deepak Hooda Will Be Sixth Bowler – Ifran Pathan

Ifran Pathan feels Hooda could be useful as a sixth bowler, which Rohit Sharma’s team evidently missed in the last year’s T20 World Cup.

“I think Deepak Hooda will need to play from the first game because he is a sixth bowling option, something that you struggled for in the last World Cup. There will be a choice that they have to make between whether they want to play a left-hander in the middle order or Hooda, but I feel the latter will have odds in his favour,” Pathan told Star Sports.

“Congratulations to all the players who got selected to play the World Cup for team india. Huge Privilage. What a turn around for @HoodaOnFire this has been. Well done boy,” Pathan tweeted.

Congratulations to all the players who got selected to play the World Cup for team india. Huge Privilage ??. What a turn around for @HoodaOnFire this has been. Well done boy.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 12, 2022

Ravichandran Ashwin Will Play Along With Yuzvendra Chahal – Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan also stated that India may start the T20 World Cup with the experienced spin duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Although Axar Patel is an option for the Men in Blue, Pathan believes they will rely more on Rishabh Pant as a left-hander who can bat in the middle overs.

“If you look from the angle of playing a left-handed batter then definitely Pant will play ahead of Axar. Even if you look at the spin options, I feel Ashwin will play along with Chahal.”

“This is because he has improved his batting a lot and also has had an economy rate of under 8 the whole year. He has improved his power-hitting game and with the template of attacking cricket, I think he will be an ideal No. 8, “ Pathan praised Ashwin’s improvements as an all-rounder.

India will start their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 23.

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