Senior all-rounder Dipak Hooda is set to return to his home team Baroda after approximately five years. After leaving the team in 2021, Hooda moved to play for Rajasthan, but now all long-standing disagreements between him and the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) have been resolved. Furthermore, Hooda spoke with Krunal Pandya, the elder brother of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, which paved the way for his return.
Snehal Parikh, CEO of BCA, confirmed this information to TOI. He stated that a conversation took place between Dipak Hooda and Krunal Pandya, and there are no longer any issues between them. Old issues between BCA and Hooda have also been settled.
The conflict between Dipak Hooda and Krunal Pandya first flared up in January 2021. This occurred shortly before Baroda's first match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament when Hooda left the team's hotel complex. At that time, Hooda accused Krunal of inappropriate behavior, abusive language, and exerting pressure. Prior to this, BCA had also suspended his participation in the 2020-21 season due to accusations of indiscipline.
Following the escalation of the dispute, Dipak Hooda decided to leave Baroda and began playing for Rajasthan as a professional player in the next home season. Now, five years later, the situation has completely changed. After talking with Krunal, the disagreements between them have vanished, and Hooda is ready to wear the Baroda jersey again.
While playing for Rajasthan, Dipak Hooda continued to demonstrate his skills in batting and versatility. He amassed 4267 runs in 67 first-class matches at an average of 45.39, including 14 centuries and 18 half-centuries. His best individual score was an unbeaten 293 runs. Additionally, he showed himself with bowling, taking 29 wickets.
In List A matches, Dipak Hooda has scored 3340 runs and taken 42 wickets in 109 games. In List A, he has scored six centuries and 17 half-centuries. In 230 T20 matches, Hooda has accumulated 3972 runs, including two centuries and 25 half-centuries. In T20 cricket, he has taken 28 wickets.
Dipak Hooda has played 10 ODI matches and 21 T20 Internationals for India. In ODIs, he scored 153 runs and took three wickets. In T20 Internationals, he scored 368 runs and took six wickets. His last match for India was on February 1, 2023, against New Zealand, after which Dipak Hooda could not return to the Indian squad. Jitesh Sharma, a wicketkeeper-batsman, will also play for Baroda, although he will only be available in white-ball formats as a guest player.