'This will be fun' - Twitter sparks meme fest as LSG buy both Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya

The Lucknow Super Giants have made some interesting buys so far in the IPL 2022 mega auction. While they did rope in a couple of impactful overseas players including the likes of West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder and South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock, the new franchise also invested in two senior Indian players- Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya respectively. While Hooda was bought for a sum of INR 5.75 crore, Krunal was purchased for  INR 8.25 crore.

There was an intense bidding war when Krunal Pandya’s name had popped up on Saturday with the Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings trying to outclass each other as the price kept going up. Soon, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, and the Super Giants joined with the Lucknow-based franchise coming out on top and buying the elder Pandya. The southpaw was released by the five-time winners Mumbai Indians months ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction while Deepak Hooda was released by the 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Twitter reacts as Lucknow bag both Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda under one roof

While Krunal and Deepak might be under one roof this season, it is to be noted that both cricketers do not get along well with each other. Their real-life rivalry dates back to January 2021 when the Rohtak cricketer had accused the Mumbai all-rounder of abusing him as a result of which he had withdrawn his name from last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Pandya was the captain of Baroda and Deepak was named his deputy that season. At the same time, the former Punjab player had reportedly also accused the southpaw of threatening him as a result of which the former was under a lot of mental pressure.

The reports further stated that Deepak Hooda was practicing in the nets and was getting prepared with the permission of the Head Coach, Mr. Prabhakar and that is when Pandya had come to the nets and misbehaved with him. With both players now set to play in one team, it would be interesting to see if the duo would be able to keep their differences aside and work in tandem to take the new franchise to greater heights.

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