Former Indian wicketkeeper Saba Karim believes that the time has come for the selectors for Team India to decide between Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Hooda to choose who would serve as the team’s backup option for the next Twenty20 World Cup as well as the Asia Cup.
Iyer’s recent performances in Twenty20 Internationals have been around ordinary, and he has also failed to impress in the series that is now being played against the West Indies. Karim emphasised the significance of the No. 3 spot in Twenty20 matches and is certain that Virat Kohli would be Team India’s first option to play there.
What did Saba Karim say?
During an interview that took place on Friday with India News Sports, the 54-year-old elucidated the significance of preparing either Iyer or Deepak Hooda for the No. 3 post as a backup for Kohli.Â
He said:Â “When Virat Kohli is fit to play, you can expect him to slot in at number three in the batting order. However, the time has come for the selectors to choose an additional batter to bat in the middle of the order as a backup option. If they have faith in Shreyas Iyer, then they should keep playing him and keep their fingers crossed that he would find his form again. However, if they are still testing different strategies, then it is the appropriate moment to play Hooda at number 3. Additionally, he is capable of being useful with the ball, which is a significant asset for Team India.”
In the few matches that Deepak Hooda has participated in for India, he has been nothing short of spectacular. If he can make it into the T20 World Cup team in such a short amount of time, it would be a fantastic accomplishment on his part.
