'Deepak Hooda is suddenly nowhere' - Former India cricketer questions selection calls of the Indian management

Deepak Hooda (Source; Twitter)

After winning the T20 series against New Zealand 1-0, India started the ODI series on a sober note losing the first One Dayer by 7 wickets on Friday. For the second game, two changes were made by the Men in Blue Deepak Hooda came in for Sanju Samson and Deepak Chahar came in for Shardul Thakur.

India went in with six batters and five bowlers and set the Kiwis a target of 307 batting first. New Zealand chased down the target courtesy of Tom Latham who made 145 off 114 balls with 19 fours and five sixes and Kane Willamson who scored 94 off 98 balls with seven fours and one six with just under three overs to spare.

When it came to the team selection ahead of the second one-dayer, former India pacer Ashish Nehra appeared to be miffed when it came to the changes concerning Team India’s composition. He raised his concerns about the changes and said that the management should have had confidence in the players who were already slotted in the XI.

It is harsh to drop Thakur after one game- Ashish Nehra

Here is what Nehra said, in a pre-match show, “I hope they haven't picked Deepak Hooda for his bowling. You have Washington Sundar, yes, he bowled well and picked up a few wickets in the T20Is. He's your sixth option, but not a great sixth option. Two changes India have made today, first thing, I don't feel two wrongs make a right because it's not that Shardul Thakur hasn't done well. But before Thakur it should have been Deepak Chahar. Now you have gone with Thakur and it is harsh to .after one game,”

Nehra also made interesting comments on Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda - “Even if you see Sanju Samson, I would have played Hooda ahead of Samson because he was part of the World Cup squad and suddenly he is nowhere. So it's difficult for Hooda as well as Thakur," he added. He also said that he is looking at Chahar as India’s sixth bowling option, not Deepak Hooda. According to him, India should have opted for the four pacers and two spinners since Hardik Pandya was not available.