After a five-year sabbatical that started with a highly publicised falling out with Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda is scheduled to return to Baroda for the 2026–2027 domestic season. Since leaving Baroda in early 2021, the 31-year-old all-rounder has played for Rajasthan in all domestic forms. Hooda’s 2026–27 season schedule has not yet been finalised.
On the eve of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in January 2021, the conflict reached a breaking point. Deepak Hooda left the Baroda team hotel, publicly accusing Krunal, the squad’s captain, of bullying, rude language, and terrible behaviour. In response, the BCA banned Hooda for the 2020–21 season due to his lack of discipline.
In addition, Jitesh Sharma will continue to be available to Baroda as a guest player, but just for white-ball cricket.
Why did Deepak Hooda leave Baroda in 2021?
In Indian domestic cricket, the incident involving Hooda and Pandya garnered a lot of attention. Hooda made grave accusations, and the controversy was heightened by the BCA’s choice to enforce a ban rather than publicly address the underlying allegations. Hooda relocated to Rajasthan after the ban, and he began playing for that association in the 2021–2022 domestic season. A chapter that had been open for five years is closed with his return to Baroda.
Before Deepak Hooda returns to Baroda, what does his record reveal?
Deepak Hooda returns to Baroda with a significant amount of both domestic and foreign expertise. He has amassed 4,267 runs at an average of 45.39 in 67 first-class games, with 14 hundreds, 18 half-centuries, and a top score of 293 not out. With a top return of 5/31, his bowling in the format has produced 29 wickets at 41.44.
Deepak Hooda has amassed 3,340 runs at 38.83 in 109 List A games, including six hundreds and seventeen half-centuries, with a maximum score of 104. In the format, he has also claimed 42 wickets at a rate of 29.92, with a best of five for 55. He has scored 3,972 runs at 24.67 in 230 Twenty20 matches, with two hundreds and a maximum of 108.
The all-rounder has played in ten ODIs at the international level, scoring 153 runs at 25.50 and taking three wickets at 39.66 while representing many Indian Premier League teams. He has taken six wickets at 12.66 and scored 368 runs at 30.66 in 21 Twenty20 Internationals. On February 1, 2023, he made his most recent appearance for India in a Twenty20 International against New Zealand.
