‘All problems solved’: Five years after Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda opts to play for Baroda

Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya Attacking batsman Deepak Hooda will return to his home team Baroda in domestic cricket five years after moving to Rajasthan.“Yes, Deepak is coming back to Baroda. He and Krunal (Pandya) have spoken. Everything is settled between them,” Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) CEO Snehal Parikh confirmed to TOI on Thursday.The batting all-rounder joined Rajasthan as a professional for the 2021-22 domestic season after severing ties with Baroda. Hooda moved to Rajasthan after being banned by the BCA for the 2020–21 season in January for “indiscipline”.Hooda moved out of the team hotel on the eve of Baroda’s first match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in January 2021, claiming that Baroda captain Krunal Pandya, with his “bad behaviour”, abusive language and “bullying”, had made him “depressed, demoralized and under pressure” and forced him to leave.However, Parikh said “all issues between BCA and Hooda have now been resolved.”In 67 first-class matches, the 31-year-old Hooda has scored 4267 runs at 45.39, with 14 centuries and 18 half-centuries, and a top score of 293 not out. He also took 29 wickets @ 41.44 with a best haul of five for 31.In 109 List A matches, he scored 3340 runs at 38.83, with six centuries and 17 half-centuries, and a top score of 104, besides taking 42 wickets at 29.92, with a best haul of 5 for 55. In 230 T20s, Hooda has 972 2 runs and 2 runs, 3 scores of 108.Hooda has played 10 ODIs (153 runs at 25.50 & three wickets at 39.66) and 21 T20Is (368 runs at 30.66, six wickets at 12.66), although he last played for India in a T20I against New Zealand on 1 February 2023.Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma will continue to represent Baroda as a visiting player but only in white-ball formats, informed Parikh.Munaf Patel has been appointed coach and mentor of BCA AcademyMeanwhile, BCA has appointed former India pacer Munaf Patel as coach and mentor at its BCA Academy in Vadodara.