The second T20I between India and Ireland was a close game. Despite the visitors making what seemed like a huge total, Ireland took the game right down to the wire and lost by just four runs at the end. Irish fightback against a quality Indian side won them a moral victory for sure.
Another moral victory was earned by Deepak Hooda, who after being given chance, grabbed them by both hands. In the first match, the batter could not reach his half-century due to the lack of overs remaining, but in the next, he did show the full extent of his talent. In the second T20I, the Rohtak-born was able to make a sensational 104 off of 57. Over the course of his century, the 27-year-old hit nine boundaries and six sixes.
The Lucknow player had a great Indian T20 League 2022 earlier where he made 451 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 136.66 and an average of 32. The batter was given an opportunity to showcase his talent on the international stage against Ireland and that is what he did. His great knocks in both innings have propelled the batter to the top of the list for most runs scored in the series. Hooda made 151 runs in this series at an average of 151. The second batter is Harry Tector with 103.
Talking of the game, India were able to make 225/7 with the help of Hooda (104) and Sanju Samson (77). India would have expected an easy with this score but the Irish team seemed up for the challenge from the word get-go. Their openers Paul Stirling (40 off of 18) and Andrew Balbirnie (60 off of 37) took on the Indian bowlers and looked set to reach the target. Indian bowlers somehow got the Irish openers out but the next batters showcased similar chasing skills and reached very close to the target. In the end, Ireland lost the game and Deepak Hooda was adjudged man of the match for his great knock.
The Rohtak-born batter is on course to claim a place in the Indian side for the upcoming world cup. Here’s how Twitter reacted to his great knock!
100* off 55. Hooda. On. Fire. ??? pic.twitter.com/QyJRzPqp2v
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) June 28, 2022
Maiden T20I hundred for Deepak Hooda, he has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the last 8 months in this format for various teams. pic.twitter.com/lwf0u25MVg
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda has made every opportunity count this year.
Bailed his team out of trouble time and again in the SMAT20 trophy.
Did the same thing for LSG in the IPL – finished with 450+ runs.
And now delivering as a top-order batter in Indian colours.#IREvIND
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) June 28, 2022
Hundred by Deepak Hooda in 55 balls. He becomes just the 4th Indian to score a century in men's T20i, what a brilliant display of batting by Hooda. pic.twitter.com/gFFi3jXoio
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda now only the fourth Indian batsman to score a T20I hundred. That's come only in his third T20I innings. @HoodaOnFire is actually on fire today…
— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) June 28, 2022
Hooda is the first Indian player whose maiden international hundred came in a T20I.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) June 28, 2022
Players to hit T20I hundred while batting at No. 3 for Team India :
1) Suresh Raina
2) Deepak Hooda (Today)@ImRaina @HoodaOnFire pic.twitter.com/Nix6nRQQN7— That's Raina For You (@Thatsrainaforu) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda in the last 8 months:
SMAT – 294 runs from 6 matches.
IPL – 451 runs from 15 matches.
Ireland series – 151 runs from 2 matches.— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda owned this series. Totally. And he happens to be the man who’s not got enough chances…but how do you accommodate him when the senior guys are back? Run-up to the World Cup is going to be really entertaining…
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 28, 2022
