Surat: The The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has suspended senior player Deepak Hooda on Friday (January 22) for this domestic season on grounds of ‘indiscipline’ and ‘bringing disrespect to the game.’ Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya were involved in a verbal spat inside the Baroda training session ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021. Hooda alleged that he was ‘bullied’ by the team captain, Krunal Pandya. Hooda had walked out of the team on the eve of domestic T20 tournament after a banter with captain Krunal.
“He (Hooda) has been suspended for this season for indiscipline and bringing disrespect to the BCA and the game. Without informing the team and the BCA, he left the team and the (bio) bubble,” BCA secretary Ajit Lele quoted as saying to PTI.
“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,” BCA joint secretary, Parag Patel said.
Hooda, who was initially appointed as Baroda’s vice-captain for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, had stormed out of the bio-bubble on January 9. He had alleged “misbehaviour” on the part of Pandya in an e-mail sent to BCA.
However, Indian all-rounder and the captain of the Baroda Cricket Team, Krunal Pandya has been silent on the entire matter between him and Deepak Hooda. Krunal recently lost his father midway through the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021. He flew back home, to be with his family, leaving the bio-bubble in between.
