Deepak Hooda leaves Baroda Cricket Association

Deepak Hooda has been suspended by the Baroda Cricket Association from participating in the ongoing domestic season for walking out of the team before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Hooda had left the team after an altercation with captain Krunal Pandya.

"The apex council decided that Hooda won't be considered to represent the Baroda team for the current domestic season. The decision was taken after considering reports from team manager and coach about the incident as well as communication with Hooda," Satyajit Gaekwad, chairman, BCA press and publicity committee was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Deepak Hooda Accuses Krunal Pandya of Using Abusive Language; Leaves Baroda Camp

Baroda vice-captain Deepak Hooda has left the team hotel and the bio-secure bubble in Vadodara a day ahead of the start of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021, accusing captain Krunal Pandya of 'bullying' and 'misbehaving' with him.

"Hooda can again play for Baroda for the 2021-22 season."

BCA joint secretary, Parag Patel felt the punishment was harsh.

"Hooda did the wrong thing by walking out of the team without discussing his issues with the management. But banning him for the entire season was unnecessary. He could have been reprimanded for his act and then allowed to play," he told Times of India.

Hooda, who has played 46 first-class and 123 T20s for Baroda had claimed that Pandya stopped him from practising 'showing his Dadagiri'.

“Today I was practising in nets and doing my preparation for tomorrow’s game with the permission of Head Coach Mr Prabhkar. Then Krunal came in nets started misbehaving with me. I told him that I’m doing my preparation with the permission of head coach. He told me that ‘I’m the captain , who is the head coach? I am the overall of Baroda team .Then he stopped my practice showing his Dadagiri,” Hooda had alleged in a letter to BCA.

However, BCA chief executive officer Shishir Hattangadi told Cricinfo that he spoke to Pandya as well as Baroda head coach Prabhakar Bairgond and team manager Dharmendra Arothe and found the 25-year-old exaggerating the incident. As per Hattangadi, Pandya had only 'insisted' the players, including Hooda, to do fielding drills, and Hooda instead carried on with his batting drills. An argument ensued as Pandya "exercised his authority" to maintain "decorum" of the team environment, as per Hattangadi.

Stating Hooda's outburst as unwarranted, the former Mumbai first-class player informed in the e-mail that he has spoken to Hooda's IPL franchise - Kings XI Punjab - and will be writing to BCCI of his misconduct.

Baroda cricketer Deepak Hooda accuses Krunal Pandya of abusing him; withdraws his name from Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

India’s domestic cricket season is set to finally commence on January 10 with the T20 tournament, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. As many as 38 teams will take part in the tournament with Baroda being one of the prominent teams over the years to participate. Baroda is in Elite Group C and will be facing Uttarakhand in their opening game on Sunday. However, the team is involved in a controversy with less than 24 hours to go for their first match of the season.

Deepak Hooda, one of the top players in the team, has withdrawn his name from the entire tournament at the last moment after allegedly having a heated argument with the skipper Krunal Pandya. Notably, Hooda was named the vice-captain of the team when the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) had announced the 22-member squad last week.

It has been understood that Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda got involved in a heated argument while practicing at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara ahead of their game on Sunday. Hooda has claimed in a mail written to the BCA that Krunal abused him as well and also wrote in it that he will not be playing with the team in the upcoming T20 tournament.

The news has been reported by local news channel TV9 Gujarati as well. Meanwhile, it has also been understood that Krunal Pandya has threatened Hooda during the argument. Reportedly, Hooda was also under a lot of mental pressure. Baroda has announced a trimmed 17-man squad for Sunday’s game and Deepak Hooda is not a part of it.

This comes as a huge blow for Baroda as the said cricketer is very much experienced having played in 46 FC, 68 List A and 123 T20 matches so far in his career. With no Yusuf Pathan also in the squad, an exclusion of yet another experienced player has put the Baroda team in the doldrums just before the start of the domestic season.

Krunal Pandya was involved in controversy recently

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians all-rounder and Baroda skipper Krunal Pandya was involved in controversy recently as well. He was detained at the Mumbai airport while returning from UAE after the IPL 2020 for over suspicion of being in possession of undisclosed gold and valuables. Reports stated that the cricketer arrived in India with valuables worth almost INR 1 crore, which was much above the permissible limits as per Indian laws.

Krunal Pandya was also questioned for more than six hours and luxury watches were seized as well. The cricketer, however, had admitted to being unaware of the rules and also issued an apology to the Customs official while also agreeing to pay the penalty.