Deepak Hooda’s dismal IPL 2023 continues

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all-rounder Deepak Hooda’s disappointing run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) continued with yet another single-digit score on Tuesday. In his side’s IPL 2023 match against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Lucknow, Deepak was dismissed for just five runs off seven balls by Jason Behrendorff. In 11 matches, Deepak has managed just 69 runs at an average of 6.90, which is the lowest by any player in an IPL season who has played a maximum of 10 innings. He has scores of 17, 2, 7, 9, 2, 2, 2, 11*, 1, 11, and 5 in this edition of the tournament. His strike rate is just 89.61. This is sharply in contrast to his 2022 season with the side, which is his best IPL season ever. He scored 451 runs in 15 matches at an average of 32.21 and a strike rate of 136.67. He scored four half-centuries with best score of 59. Other players with shockingly low averages in an IPL season are Nicholas Pooran (85 runs in 11 innings, average 7.73 in IPL 2021), Deepak Hooda again (144 runs in 15 innings, average of 10.29 in IPL 2016), and Eoin Morgan (133 runs in 16 innings, average of 11.08 in IPL 2021). Coming to the match, LSG was put to bat first by MI and they posted 177/3 in their 20 overs. Pacer Jason Behrendorff and Piyush Chawla took three quick wickets for MI, dismissing Deepak Hooda (5), Prerak Mankad (0) and Quinton de Kock (16), reducing LSG to 35/3. Then skipper Krunal Pandya (49 off 42 balls) built a partnership with Marcus Stoinis but retired hurt before he could complete his half-century. Nicholas Pooran (8*) came to the crease to join Stoinis, who went on a rampage in the death overs. Stoinis scored 89* off just 47 balls, consisting of four boundaries and eight sixes. Behrendorff picked up 2/30 in his four overs. Chawla also took 1/26 in his three overs. In the chase of 178, MI started well with a 90-run opening stand between Ishan Kishan (59 in 39 balls, eight fours and a six) and skipper Rohit Sharma (37 in 25 balls). Following the dismissal of two openers, M