Mumbai: Lucknow Super Giants Captain KL Rahul said Deepak Hooda is someone whom the team can rely upon in the middle overs.
"I have been playing with him (Hooda) for the last 3-4 seasons and we talk a lot. He loves batting in the nets and never comes out. He's keen to learn, he has to wait for chances and he is using them. He's become somebody whom we can rely on in the middle-order," he said at the post-match presentation ceremony here.
"He soaked in the pressure today and took on the bowling. Really pleased with the way he is batting. Hopefully he can grow and get better," he added.
These comments followed Hooda's 51 runs off 33 balls, which included 3 boundaries and as many sixes.
Hooda, along with Rahul who scored 68 runs at the top, was an important cog in the wheel to rebuild the innings for Lucknow when they were struggling at 27 for 3. Both put on 87 runs partnership for 4th wicket.
"What's been pleasing is that we have always found a way to stay in the game and give ourselves a chance to win, we did that again today," Rahul said.
It is not ideal to lose three wickets in the first four overs, that is something the team need to learn as a batting group how they can play risk-free cricket, he said.
With the ball, Rahul said the side has been brilliant in all three games and that's something that needs to be carried forward. Replying to a query, he said, "You don't chat so much in the middle. You don't want to plan too much as openers. If the wicket is good, both of us go. We have the extra batter with Jason Holder coming in, the plan is to put the pressure on the opposition.
"That is the body language we want to carry, go out there and look to hit boundaries and sixes. If we end up losing a couple of wickets, we need to assess the conditions quickly," he added.
Replying to a query, Rahul said Quinton de Kock and Evin Lewis wanted to put pressure on Washington Sundar, but did not come off, which gives them room for learning. (UNI)
