His best season came in IPL 2022, where he amassed 451 runs in 15 matches.
Dynamic all-rounder Deepak Hooda is one of the veterans in the Indian Premier League (IPL), having made his debut way back in the 2015 season. The 29-year-old last played for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), after being bought the franchise for INR 5.75 crore at the IPL 2022 mega-auction.
However, the last two IPL seasons have been underwhelming for Hooda. Since his debut, he has only lived up to his potential once—during the 2022 season, when he amassed 451 runs in 15 matches at an average of 32.21.
ALSO READ: 3 Teams That Will Target Kane Williamson in the IPL 2025 Auction
This standout performance earned him a spot in the Indian team, where he also recorded a century. Known for his adaptability, Hooda can contribute both as a top-order or middle-order batter, and his off-spin bowling adds further value to any T20 lineup. With consistent support and a well-defined role, he has the potential to regain his peak performance.
Given his utility value, Hooda’s addition also gives depth and flexibility to any squad that he joins. Keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at three franchises who might be willing to take the punt on the Indian all-rounder at the IPL 2025 auction.
With a budget of INR 83 crore, RCB heads into the auction with a strong financial position to pursue their needs and more. While the RCB management will have multiple objectives to fulfil, one of the important ones will definitely be to strengthen the middle-order and all-rounder roles, while also securing solid backups for vital positions.
Given that 14-16 spots will likely be occupied by Indian players, RCB is anticipated to target experienced domestic professionals, which is where a dependable batting all-rounder like Deepak Hooda can come in, who can contribute with the ball as well.
The Rajasthan Royals is where Hooda made his IPL debut and the franchise might feel confident of unlocking his potential once again by bringing him back to the side. RR are known for their innovative strategies and with a focus on building a balanced squad, they could see Hooda as a player who can contribute both with bat and ball.
RR could leverage Hooda’s skills to strengthen their middle order while also adding an effective part-time option to their bowling attack.
ALSO READ: 3 Teams That Will Target Will Jacks in the IPL 2025 Auction
The former IPL champions may target Hooda to strengthen their domestic core for the 2025 season. His all-round ability offers a lot of value to their team.
His ability to bat deep into the match and a relatively tight economy rate with the ball makes him a key asset for high-pressure games, especially on Ahmedabad’s pitch. GT did lack experienced domestic batters in the previous three seasons, and this is where Hooda will come as a welcome change.
For more updates, follow Cricxtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram and YouTube.
