Deepak Dhapola, the 33-year-old fast bowler from Uttarakhand, is currently the talk of the town in the cricketing fraternity. With back-to-back hat-tricks in the Ranji Trophy 2024, Dhapola has captured the attention of fans and experts alike.
A Stellar Performance Amidst Setbacks
Dhapola’s first hat-trick came during Uttarakhand’s fixture against Puducherry, where he displayed his prowess in the second innings. Despite his exceptional performance, Uttarakhand faced defeat. However, Dhapola’s determination only intensified as he claimed his second hat-trick against Delhi in the subsequent match. Despite his stellar efforts, Uttarakhand suffered consecutive losses.
Having trained under the guidance of Rajkumar Sharma, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach, Dhapola embarked on his cricketing journey in Delhi. Despite consistent performances, he remained on the sidelines for years before making the crucial decision to shift to Uttarakhand.
Reflecting on his journey, Dhapola stated, “I started playing professional cricket under him (Rajkumar). I was in the standbys for so long in Delhi. So I decided to move to Uttarakhand. By godâs grace and hard work, I have been taking wickets (regularly).”
Dreaming of the IPL
While Dhapola’s exceptional performances have earned him praise from the cricketing community, his focus remains unwavering. When asked about his aspirations of playing in the IPL, Dhapola emphasized, “I have focused only on playing good cricket. If god has it in store for me, it will happen.”
He added, “I am in a competition with myself to get better day by day. I have a lot of confidence in myself. The faith from teammates and coaches helps.”
Dhapola’s talent has not gone unnoticed by the cricketing authorities. He received praise from BCCI Secretary Jay Shah for his remarkable figures of 8/35 against Himachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy 2022.
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