For Hooda, the transition from office laptop to cricket pitch was nearly aborted. After two unsuccessful attempts at Under-23 trials and lacking a traditional junior cricket background, he had resigned himself to a career in engineering. It was only the intervention of his coach, Harish Dagar, who urged him to commit one final year to the sport, that kept his cricketing ambitions alive.
A Late Bloomer with Natural Pace
Before he was a fast bowler, Hooda was a national-level roller skater. His formal introduction to leather-ball cricket did not occur until his college years, where he discovered a natural affinity for bowling at speed. Coach Dagar, who first spotted Hooda’s potential in 2019, identified a rare combination of natural strength, arm speed, and body alignment that required only technical refinement and mental conditioning.
The path to success was grueling. Hooda often trained late at night after completing his corporate duties, requiring a disciplined approach to fitness and workload management. Dagar focused heavily on the mental side of the game, helping his student navigate the physical toll of
The Shift to Full-Time Cricket
With his pace consistently clocking in at 140 kmph, Hooda is now looking beyond the DPL. His focus has shifted toward developing the stamina required for red-ball cricket, with an eye on first-class opportunities and, ultimately, representing his country. While he remains employed, the success of his recent season has forced him to reconsider his priorities.
Hooda acknowledges that the dual life of an engineer and a professional athlete is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Having seen significant progress in his development over the past few months, he is now prepared to potentially step away from his corporate role to dedicate himself entirely to cricket. As he looks toward the future, the former engineer is ready to commit his full focus to the sport that once seemed out of reach.
