I’m a die hard MS Dhoni fan, Chennai Super Kings is my favourite IPL team: Deepak Hooda
Deepak Hooda (Photo by Francois Nel – ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Indian all-rounder Deepak Hooda has said that Chennai Super Kings is his favourite team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and that he would want to play under MS Dhoni. Hooda has been a part of the IPL since 2015 and has 785 runs and nine wickets to his name in 80 matches.
He was with the Punjab Kings in the last couple of editions of the league, while he has previously also represented Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Baroda all-rounder recently earned his maiden international call-up after being named in India’s squad for the West Indies ODI series at home, and is certainly one of the key players going into the mega auction before the 2022 season of the IPL, which is likely to go underway in the last week of March.
“There is nothing like that [on whether he wants to be a part of any specific IPL team]. As of now, Deepak is not waiting for the auction on the 12th and 13th, he is just waiting for the 6th. There is no team as such, I just want to play. But my personal favorite team is the Chennai Super Kings. I am like a kid who wants to play under MS Dhoni,” Hooda said on India News.
Hooda revealed that he is a “die hard” MS Dhoni fan and he has interacted with the former India skipper on multiple occasions in the past. “I am MS Dhoni’s die-hard fan, I like his leadership as well. I have spoken to him many times. When I had come to the Indian team earlier as well, Dhoni bhai was also there. Then also I used to talk to him and after that, whenever we have met we have spoken.”
I got to learn a lot from Anil Kumble: Deepak Hooda
The all-rounder also opened up on his experience with the Punjab-based franchise and the learnings he picked while being under the guidance of Anil Kumble, the former Indian spinner and Punjab’s coach in IPL.
“I got to learn a lot from Anil Kumble over the last two years. He is himself a legend, he has 1000 international wickets. Obviously, even if you talk a sentence or word with him, it is a learning for you. I was able to handle pressure better because Anil Sir was there. I matured a lot in the last two years. I was in the midst of very good people, Anil Sir is one among them, who improved me mentally as well as my game,” he said.
