In Indian cricket, being out of the team a long time can be even more perilous than having bad form. This is the case Deepak Hooda finds himself. He is no longer a useful general utility and the silence concerning his name is growing louder.
It is not very long that Hooda played with India, and the problem is complicated by the rapid increase in the competition. Every series has new actors, and when one man loses his role, it becomes significantly more difficult to get it again than it is to be the first one to get it.
The only surprise is that Hooda did not have a lack of impact. He passed through a period when he resembled the ideal utility man – one who could complete games with the bat and make a useful contribution with the chips. His 100 th international in T20 matches was a demonstration that he could lead the attack and his bowling performances were enough to prove that he could be something more than a part-time player.
Continuity has been the real problem however. He did not receive a long, continuous service in the team, and in a system where consistency is paramount that made it difficult to cement his position. Selectors shifted over with time and Hooda gradually faded out of the discussion.
At the age of 30, he is at an age when each season counts. It is not about potential anymore but it is about securing a place by demonstrating that there are many times he belongs. The margin of errors is very small with young players presenting compelling cases about themselves.
It is not a story of his downfall, but of how fast a person can fall in international cricket. A single lapse in action may cause a player to move beyond the status of being a serious consideration, into that of a nuisance.
It is no longer a matter of selection, but an issue of timing. There is still a possibility that the door may open assuming that Hooda delivers in domestic and league cricket. However, when the wait goes on, that door might close silently.
It is no longer a mere phase, as it can be the most significant part of his career to Deepak Hooda.
