I started my cricket career as a wicketkeeper-batsman: Kings XI Punjab's all-rounder Deepak Hooda

There are several batsmen who started their career as a bowler and vice-versa. Their career shaped up in such a way that they had to don a completely different role as they cricketing journey progressed with time. One such player is Kings XI Punjab all-rounder Deepak Hooda, who revealed that he started his cricketing journey as a wicketkeeper-batsman.

Hooda revealed that he even enjoyed bowling in the early days of his career. However, when he first started playing club cricket, he was assigned the role of a wicketkeeper-batsman. Hooda also revealed that he agreed to become a wicketkeeper because his senior team did not have one. However, it was a difficult task for Hooda as a youngster because his knees used to pain a lot due to the stress of keeping.

“I enjoyed bowling even in my early cricketing days, but when I started playing club cricket my coach made me a wicketkeeper-batsman. The first two years of my cricket career I played as a ‘keeper-batsman,” Kings’ official website quoted Hooda as saying.

‘My knees used to pain a lot’: Deepak Hooda

“I got to be in the playing eleven back then just because I agreed to become a wicketkeeper because the senior team did not have anyone for that position. But keeping in the nets all day was difficult for me as a youngster because my knees used to pain a lot,” he added.

Hooda, who has played 61 IPL games while amassing 524 runs, said that he understood that wicketkeeping was not his cup of tea and so, he started improving his batting forte.

“I began working on my batting because I didn’t want to play as a keeper anymore. Back then, my brother and I used to play together and we used to bowl to each other and help improve the other. I liked to be active on the cricket field, be it bowling, batting or fielding,” said Hooda.

Hooda was snapped up by Kings XI Punjab for INR 50 lakhs in IPL 2020 auction. The all-rounder was set to don the jersey of the Punjab franchise before the outbreak of coronavirus put a halt to the tournament. The much-awaited IPL 2020 has been postponed indefinitely in the wake of the pandemic and its future looks bleak at the moment.