Deepak Hooda skips practice session for Rajasthan after rift with officials over selection calls - Reports
Rajasthan skipper Deepak Hooda reportedly opted to skip the pre-match practice session at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, ahead of the Elite Group B clash against Hyderabad after being upset over a few selection calls. The two-time winners of the competition are unbeaten so far, drawing two of the three games so far.
According to a report by Sportstar, Hooda was not impressed with some of the decisions taken by the ad hoc panel, overruling the captain and the coach. Things escalated during the build-up to the match against Hyderabad as Hooda seemingly skipped the practice session to talk with the ad hoc committee members and higher authorities to find a resolution.
Amid the chaos, a panel member has even threatened to quit if his inputs regarding selection were not considered by the captain and coach.
“This has been an issue since the start of the season. There have been multiple disagreements over player selection between the ad hoc panel and the captain and coach. However, yesterday, things got a bit out of control as the captain, although he came for the practice session, continued to sit out. He was constantly on his phone, busy on calls with the ad hoc committee members and the Sports Minister (Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore),” a source in the Rajasthan Cricket Association told Sportstar.
The entire debacle reportedly surrounds the selection call between Kunal Singh Rathore and Rajkumar Saini. Hooda reportedly wanted the first-choice Rathore to continue despite a string of low scores, and was not prepared to take the field without him.
“These things happen when there are a number of people trying to make a decision. The more the heads, more the opinions. It isn’t wrong and it is not a controversy. The captain wanted wicketkeeper-batter Kunal Singh Rathore to continue despite the fact that he hasn’t performed for a while now. He has hit only one fifty in his last three games," ad-hoc panel member Dharmveer said.
The report further states that although Hooda missed the practice session, he was involved in the team meeting that evening, where the coach and a core of senior players, including vice-captain Deepak Chahar supported the stance of the captain.
Ultimately, it was Hooda's call that was finalised in the end as Kunal Singh Rathore made it to the playing XI for the ongoing clash against Hyderabad.
“We have been accommodating enough to include the captain and coach in all our team selection meetings. Kunal didn’t make the initial 15 but the captain was not willing to take the field without him. We decided to listen to him because he felt his addition would be good for the team. I had a chat with the convenor and captain. I just wished (Kunal) Rathore well. We all want him to perform. It is just that we felt Rajkumar Saini would have been a good choice. He has done well in the domestic circuit," Dharmveer added.
The ad-hoc panel was formed in March 2024 to assist and oversee cricketing matters of the state side, as well as conduct elections. The committee is led by politician Jaideep Bihani, and comprises Ratan Singh, Pawan Goyal, Dharmveer Singh Shekhawat, and Harish Singh.
Deepak Hooda was involved in an infamous spat with Krunal Pandya in 2021 while playing for Baroda
During the 2021 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Baroda all-rounders Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda were involved in an ugly altercation. The latter had claimed that Pandya used abusive language and threatened to end his career with the Baroda team.
Hooda ultimately switched bases to Baroda, but found himself on the same side as Pandya, when they were in the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL).