'Really happy for him' - Twitter elated as Deepak Hooda named in India's XI for 3rd T20I

Ahead of the third T20I between West Indies and India, skipper Rohit Sharma at the toss confirmed one change for the Men in Blue. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja had to miss the game and Deepak Hooda got a place in the playing combination. Fans had been longing to see Hooda play in the ongoing T20I series, but he was out of the first two games. Now that he is finally a part of the playing combination, it would be interesting to see what he brings in.

Hooda has been in terrific form in the 20-over format, and has proved his worth in the team time and again. He was the leading run-scorer during the India tour of Ireland where the two teams played two T20Is. Hooda also smashed a magnificent century in the second game and became just the fourth Indian batter to achieve the feat in T20Is.

His inputs with the bat during the England tour were also noteworthy, as he added some good amount of runs in the middle and kept the scoreboard ticking. Indian fans were really disappointed to see Hooda benched for the first two games. Many even criticized the Indian management to have chosen Shreyas Iyer ahead of Hooda because the former hasn’t done well in the format lately.

India’s struggle to build a strong squad

The Indian team management has received a backlash from the fans as they have kept changing the playing combination regularly. Though that has provided fruitful outcomes for the team, there is also a risk of the players losing their momentum. India are desperately looking to finalize a strong squad for the Asia Cup, and also the marquee T20 World Cup 2022.

Speaking of the ongoing series, India won the first game by a huge margin of 68 runs, thanks to Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik’s contributions with the bat, and the bowlers’ brilliance. West Indies announced themselves brilliantly by bouncing back in the second T20I and taking the game away from India’s hands. The hosts were able to level the five-match series 1-1 and both the teams would now look to take a lead and move a step closer to the series victory.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Deepak Hooda’s induction in India’s XI: 

#INDvsWI 3rd T20I

India 🇮🇳 have won the toss🪙 and have opted to field⚾

Just one change, Jadeja has been rested, *Deepak Hooda is in.

— Naveen (@Navin_002) August 2, 2022

Deepak Hooda is playing today!!🥰🤗🤗#DeepakHooda #IndvsWI pic.twitter.com/jmbEw0RqjY

— Rahul Choudhary (@Rahulc7official) August 2, 2022

So good to see #Deepakhooda back in the team. Hope he gets a good chance today! #IndiavsWestindies #BCCI https://t.co/QbFtaRC6Ue

— Atit Shah (@iamchamp7) August 2, 2022

India in full 'opening' experimentation mode. #Hooda #WIvIND

— Jigar Mehta (@jigsactin) August 2, 2022

The only way you'll find out though is by giving Hooda more overs as part of your experimentation. It worked beautifully in the one-dayers – time to test it out in this game! #WIvIND

— Soorya Sesha (@sooryasesha7) August 2, 2022

India 🇮🇳 with one change in the playing XI:

OUT: #RavindraJadeja (Rested)
IN: #DeepakHooda

Much awaited decision for the Indian fans as #Hooda comes back in the XI.

WestIndies 🏝 with one change in the XI:

OUT: #OdeanSmith
IN: #DominicDrakes#WIvIND | #WIvsIND | #TeamIndia

— Saurabh Garewal 🇮🇳 (@garewal_saurabh) August 2, 2022

Hopefully, @HoodaOnFire will be on 🔥 🔥 🔥#WIvIND #INDvsWI #WIvsIND #INDvWI #TeamIndia #DeepakHooda

— THE ROCKSTAR (@VivJonty) August 2, 2022

Finally Deepak hooda man really happy for him🔥❤

— Sarthak Uppal (@SarthakUppal3) August 2, 2022

Thank God finally 💕

— Subham Singh Rajput (@Subham_Player) August 2, 2022

Good to see Deepak Hooda back in the mix, and resting Jadeja looking at the workload factor. #WIvIND

— Rashi (@IamAditea) August 2, 2022