A floater player is needed in India’s squad, according to former all-rounder Suresh Raina, who was a member of the World Cup-winning Indian side in 2011. Raina thinks Deepak Hooda can fill that void. He also included players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Yuvraj Singh who were as effective with the ball.

“I remember, Viru pa, Yuvi pa, Sachin paaji used to bowl. Yusuf and I as well. Whenever a left-hander used to come at the crease, Mahi bhai would call me. I think Deepak Hooda could bring that factor, he can be the floater batter. He’s a terrific fielder, a good offie, and can replicate his T20 form in ODIs,” Raina told Sports Tak in a latest cricket news.

“We have (Ravindra) Jadeja and Axar (Patel), there will be spin-friendly wickets and it would be a bit cold when the World Cup starts. There will be dew and there might not be much turn on offer. Axar, Jadeja, and Hooda will be important, and so will Hardik Pandya with his pace and variation. We saw how Viru pa and Yuvi pa used to bring impact with the ball. Yuvi pa was the X-factor, he bowled really well and that confidence also showed in his batting.

“Having a player who can provide you with 4-5 overs makes things easier for the captain. It helps you maintain a healthy balance, Raina added.

So far, Hooda has participated in 10 ODIs and scored 153 runs. In his fifty-over international career so far, he has bowled 25 overs and picked up three wickets. Hooda last appeared for the team in an ODI in Christchurch in 2022 against New Zealand, hence he hasn’t played an ODI for the team since 2023. The match prediction for India in this world cup depends on the all round performance of the team.

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