XtraTime Web Desk: With the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli and few other key players, young all-rounder from Baroda Deepak Hooda is eyeing an international debut in the forthcoming T20 tri-nation series in Sri Lanka which is set to begin from March 6.
Hooda was also a part of India squad for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka which was played at home in last December, but unfortunately he didn’t get a chance in the playing XI.
“This is an important series. I did not get a chance (to play) in the first series (in which I was selected), I hope that I will now get a chance and I am prepared for it. I will give my 110 per cent,” Hooda said.
Hooda, a right-handed batsman and right-arm off break bowler, has so far played 31 first class games for Baroda in which he has amassed 2208 runs. He has also taken seven wickets.
The player said he had discussed a few things about the game with former skipper Dhoni when he shared the Indian team’s dressing room and was applying what the ex-skipper told him.
“Yes that (being in the Indian dressing room) obviously helped. There are big players in the team, who have done so much for the nation. Speaking to them, you learn a lot,” he said.
“I asked MS (Dhoni), that being (batting) at number five, what should be my thinking and we discussed it and he told me (about it) and I am applying it,” he added.
Hooda has been to the island nation two times earlier and he said conditions there are similar to other Asian countries.
Hooda, who played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad last year, said his experiences from the Indian Premier League will also help him in the T20 tri-series which concludes on March 18.