Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya, who played together in Baroda’s Syed Mushtaq Ali team, were bought by Lucknow Super Giants on the first day of the IPL 2022 mega auction. While the former cost the league’s newest franchise Rs 5.75 crore, the latter was acquired for a whopping Rs 8 crore.
Lucknow Super Giants outbid all the nine other teams to get two proven Indian all-rounders. Pandya was a part of the Mumbai Indians. He helped them win three IPL titles in four years. The 30-year-old was named the player of the match in the 2017 final when his side locked horns with Rising Pune Supergiants. His 38-ball 47 pushed Mumbai’s total to 129 runs before Rohit Sharma and company managed to restrict Steve Smith’s team to 128, winning the game by one run.
Hooda, on the other hand was a part of the Rajasthan Royals in 2015. He fetched Rs 4.2 crore in 2016 and represented the Sunrisers Hyderabad. In 81 IPL games, the 26-year-old has scored 785 runs and taken nine wickets.
As soon as the two were roped in by Lucknow, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag tweeted, “Hooda and Krunal would be a good pair. Divided by Baroda, United by Lucknow.”
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This was in reference to Hooda and Pandya’s 2021 spat. The former accused the former Mumbai Indians all-rounder of abusing him. This had resulted in Hooda leaving the team’s bio-bubble ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. He was suspended.
Pandya was the captain of Baroda and Deepak was named his deputy that season.
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Now, more than a year later, the two will share the same dressing room. Going by their alleged differences in January 2021, the team dynamic might see some tension. Will the two let the last be, or will IPL 2022 see some intra-team struggle? How will skipper KL Rahul handle if there is? Only time will tell.
