Deepak Hooda ends rift with Krunal Pandya to rejoin Baroda

Hooda-Krunal Reconcile: Baroda's All-Rounder Back Home for 2026-27

Deepak Hooda is officially rejoining Baroda for the upcoming 2026-27 domestic season, closing a five-year chapter that closed ugly. The rift started on the eve of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Jan 2021, when the 31yo allrounder walked out of the team hotel, publicly alleging bullying and abusive language from skipper Krunal Pandya. BCA responded by banning Hooda for the 2020-21 season on indiscipline grounds, and he's since played for Rajasthan across all formats.

Baroda Cricket Association CEO Snehal Parikh confirmed the reconciliation to TOI: Hooda and Krunal have spoken, everything's sorted. Also note — Jitesh Sharma stays available to Baroda as a guest player, but strictly whiteball only.

Why it matters (the data): For a value investor like me, Hooda's numbers tell a clean story. Across 67 FC matches: 4,267 runs @ 45.39 with 14 tons, HS 293*, plus 29 wkts (best 5/31). List A: 3,340 runs @ 38.83, 6 tons, 42 wkts (5/55). T20s: 3,972 runs @ 24.67 across 230 matches with a 108. Ballast for any domestic roster.

International angle: Still relevant but on ebb. 10 ODIs (153 runs, 3 wkts), 21 T20Is (368 runs @ 30.66, 6 wkts). Last India cap was a T20I vs NZ back on Feb 1, 2023 — so no international shine, purely a domestic value play now.

Schedule for his 2026-27 appearances isn't confirmed yet. My read? A genuine win-win — Krunal gets his proven allrounder back under the banner, Baroda plugs a genuine gap in their squad depth. Watch how the BCA structures his role this season.

Source: Crictracker