In the 2016 IPL auction, when Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Indian cricketer Deepak Hooda for Rs. 4.2 crore, it did not surprise anyone because of what he achieved in the previous season for Rajasthan Royals. A player who can bat at a strike rate of over 150 at the lower-order and bowl utility off-breaks is a dream come true for any T20 franchise. Nicknamed "Hurricane" for the way he can change a match, Hooda made his first-class debut in 2014 for Baroda. On his first-class debut, he scored a century and became the second Baroda player to score a ton on their debut. Along with his flourishing first-class career, Hooda was one of the important players of India's U-19 setup. In 2016 IPL with Sunrises Hyderabad, he played his role in helping the team achieve their championship. To cement his credentials as a batsman, Hooda scored his first Ranji double-century in the 2016-2017 season. Described by his coaches as an accurate bowler, he was picked by the Kings XI Punjab in the 2020 IPL auction. In 2021, he decided to leave Baroda and join Rajasthan to play Ranji Trophy.