Former India keeper-batter Parthiv Patel has supported Team India’s move to use part-time off-spinner Deepak Hooda as the sixth bowling option in the second T20I against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, November 20. Patel shared that the only way India can find out if he is good enough is by giving him more matches. Hooda registered impressive figures of 4/10 in 2.5 overs in the T20I against the Kiwis on Sunday. Three of his four scalps were of tail-enders, which came in the 19th over of New Zealand’s chase.

However, Patel lauded skipper Hardik Pandya for giving Hooda the opportunity. Speaking during a discussion on Cricbuzz, he said: “If someone has the ability to bowl, the only way you can find it out is by giving him those overs in international games. That’s exactly what Hardik Pandya did with Hooda. We know that Hooda got into the World Cup squad because of his ability to bowl. But he did not bowl in the single game that he played. It was not needed, but you’ve got to give him some overs to see whether he is good enough to give you those couple of overs or at least one over.”

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However, having taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, Team India will try to wrap up the series by winning the third game in Napier on Tuesday, November 22 as well. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was preferred over Umran Malik in the playing XI for Sunday’s encounter, did well with figures of 1/12 from three overs. Umran has played three T20Is for India, picking up two wickets at an average of 56 and an economy rate of 12.44.

“I would like to see Umran Malik having a go at New Zealand batters. They are a quality side. The other question is – do you see Bhuvneshwar Kumar playing the 2024 T20 World Cup? If you are trying to build a team for that World Cup, this is a right step – Umran getting a game,” Parthiv Patel concluded.