Deepak Hooda should regularly be batted No. 6 or No. 7: Gautam Gambhir

Hooda played a match-winning knock [Source: Associated Press]

India's search for a reliable finisher in white-ball cricket could come in the form of Deepak Hooda, believes former opener, Gautam Gambhir. Hooda, who guided India past troubled waters in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, scored a match-winning 41 off 23 coming in at No.6.

A mentor for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Gambhir, who monitors Hooda from close quarters, said that the Baroda-batter would gain confidence from yesterday and that Team India should persist him down the order as a specialist finisher.

Interestingly, Hooda, since making his 20-overs debut for India last year, has played six of his 16 T20I innings at No.6 or No.7. 

Here's what Gambhir said

"I believe Deepak Hooda will get a lot of confidence from the sort of knock he played today. If the Indian team is looking at him as a finisher at No. 6 or No. 7, he should regularly be batted there.

It is easy to bat at No. 3 or No. 4 but No. 6 is a position where you need a specialist batter who bats regularly at that position, whether it is in the IPL or for the Indian team."

The second T20I of the three-match series will be held in Pune on January 5.

Also Read: Deepak Hooda explains his intent after powerful innings against Sri Lanka