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[Saba Sports News] Uttarakhand’s fast bowler Deepak Dhapola has been in the spotlight for achieving back-to-back hat tricks in the Ranji Trophy 2024. The 33-year-old first made headlines during Uttarakhand’s match against Puducherry, achieving a hat trick in the second innings.
He continued his impressive form against Delhi, taking the wickets of Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, and Kshitiz Sharma in quick succession, all for zero runs. Despite his efforts, Uttarakhand faced defeats in both matches.
Dhapola’s exceptional bowling has placed him fourth in the points table, with 23 wickets from seven innings at an average of 12.95 and an economy rate of 2.78. He began his cricket journey under Rajkumar Sharma, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach, and played in Delhi for about a decade. Faced with limited opportunities in Delhi and after a stint in Kolkata, Dhapola shifted his focus to Uttarakhand, where he has been consistently taking wickets.
Speaking to News18, Dhapola expressed his current focus on playing quality cricket and improving himself daily. He remains hopeful about an IPL opportunity, emphasizing his belief in his abilities and the motivation he gains from the expectations of teammates and coaches.
Dhapola’s remarkable performance, including a notable 8/35 against Himachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy 2022, has previously earned him acclaim from BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.