What a find Deepak Hooda has been for India in white-ball cricket. Ever since he has gotten a chance in the international arena, he has performed consistently for his national side. The 27-year-old batter kickstarted from the same place where he left the other day in the first game.
On Tuesday, Ireland and India locked horns in the 2nd and the final game of the T20I series. India were coming to this game with a 1-0 lead after winning the opening game. India’s skipper on the tour, Hardik Pandya won his 2nd consecutive toss and asked the opposition to bowl first.
Ireland began positively with the new ball after scalping Ishan Kishan’s wicket early in the innings. However, it was the only bright moment for the home side during the first innings. Hooda walked in next to the bat and joined Sanju Samson in the middle.
Deepak Hooda smashes his maiden T20I century
The right-handed batter extended his form from the opening game and looked assured from the very first delivery. The Baroda batter took some time to get his eye in early in his innings but soon exploded to blast the Irish bowlers all around the ground.
Deepak Hooda completed his fifty off just 27 deliveries but he didn’t look to stop and kept playing his shots in all parts of the ground. In the process, he also stitched the highest-ever partnership for any wicket for India in the T20 format. The duo added 176 runs off 83 deliveries before Samson lost his wicket.
Meanwhile, Deepak Hooda also completed his maiden international century off 55 deliveries to become the only fourth Indian to score a T20I hundred. The right-handed batter scored 104 runs off 57 deliveries, including nine boundaries and six maximums before getting out.
The fans could not stop themselves from praising the youngsters and took Twitter to register their reactions.
Check out the best Tweets here:
During the IPL, Spoke to @HoodaOnFire abt getting 💯 but even better for him to get the century for Team India 🇮🇳! So so proud of this boy 👏 pic.twitter.com/fh7BzgvOma
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) June 28, 2022
Top notch performance by @HoodaOnFire to bring up his maiden century 💯 and great knock by @IamSanjuSamson too! Mature innings with some sensational hitting across the park 🔥 Well done to make the most of the opportunity given to you #INDvsIre @BCCI
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda is putting on a show, what a knock. pic.twitter.com/AWlf7aumzl
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 28, 2022
HOO DA MAN? 😎
Maiden international 💯 for Deepak Hooda in just 55 balls! 😍
What a series he's having! 🤯#IREvIND #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/311GAaomw7
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) June 28, 2022
Well played, Deepak Hooda – what a knock it has been – 104 runs from 57 balls including 9 fours and 6 sixes. pic.twitter.com/uTLhKadIGt
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 28, 2022
Highest partnership for 🇮🇳 in T20Is ✅
Hooda's 💯 ✅
Sanju's fifty upon return ✅Total batting domination from the #MenInBlue to set a mammoth target of 2️⃣2️⃣8️⃣ for the Irish 👊🏼#IREvIND pic.twitter.com/zll6mrpJXW
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) June 28, 2022
Appreciation tweet for deepak hooda's incredible inning…🙌
— Chìggï✨ (@stuff_u_wantt) June 28, 2022
Wonderful knock from deepak hooda 🐐
What a hitting, way he used the crease was really tremendous 🌟
Best one @HoodaOnFire !!— Deepesh Kumar (@Deepesh38458556) June 28, 2022
An innings of pure CLASS 💯@HoodaOnFire
Hooda ji on 🔥🔥🔥#IREvIND pic.twitter.com/IHRwIydhGc— Avijay Das (@MAD4BARCA) June 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/CricHarsha/status/1541831179883597824
Also Read: Virender Sehwag picks India’s top three for T20 World Cup, no place for Virat Kohli