Deepak Hooda, who surprisingly opened the innings with Ishan Kishan, hit six fours and two sixes in Malahide to carry the tourists past their 109-run target in 9.2 overs.
Deepak Hooda smashed an unbeaten 47 off 29 balls as India eased to a seven-wicket victory in the rain-curtailed first Twenty20 International against Ireland on Sunday. Hooda, who surprisingly opened the innings with Ishan Kishan, hit six fours and two sixes in Malahide to carry the tourists past their 109-run target in 9.2 overs. Constant pouring before the match led to a delayed start and it was reduced to 12 overs per side.
Hooda, who enjoyed a good IPL season with newbies Lucknow Super Giants, was entrusted with opening duties and he found his rhythm after looking scratchy at the start. He teamed up with Hardik Pandya and put on a match-winning 64-run stand. Hooda stayed till the end to hit the winning four – a testimony to India's batting prowess and depth in all three formats of the sport.
While Hooda earned praise for his match-defining innings, many questioned Sanju Samson's absence from the playing eleven. The Rajasthan Royals skipper returned to the India squad after missing the previous home assignment against South Africa.
Former India pacer Ashish Nehra explained why Hooda came in as Samson's alternative for the Twenty20 series opener. He underlined the LSG batter's "confidence" after a stellar IPL season with the franchise.
“No, it’s not a tough call at all. Sanju Samson and Rahul Tripathi have come in place of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant. Deepak Hooda was already in the squad, and even Venkatesh Iyer didn’t play a match against South Africa. And the kind of performance Deepak Hooda put in the IPL, as he is one of those players who played for Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy, the whole season he scored runs, then in the IPL also,” he said in a pre-match show on SonyLIV.
“He started the tournament, playing at 5 or 6 (for LSG) and then he was promoted to number three, and there also he did well. So, his confidence must be high.”
Hooda shone with the bat but it was Bhuvneshwar Kumar who made full use of the conditions. The senior paceman's inswinger breached the defence of Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie. Hardik Pandya and Avesh Khan also picked up a wicket each, leaving Ireland tottering at 22 for three.
But the hosts staged a spirited recovery, thanks to Harry Tector who hit 64 off just 33 deliveries. Yuzvendra Chahal, who returned 1/11 in his three overs, picked up Player of the Match for his economical showing.
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