Ayush Badoni: Know more about the LSG cricketer

Ayush Badoni left the cricket fans in awe with his batting display recently in the IPL 2022 fixture for the Lucknow Super Giants against the Gujarat Titans. The right-hander scored a 41-ball 55 when his team was in complete disarray at 29 for 4 and he took on some of the international bowlers like Rashid Khan, Lockie Ferguson and Mohammed Shami to the cleaners. While many would have thought twice to get him in the XI as he did not have much experience, the Lucknow Super Giants gave him an IPL debut and he immediately repaid the faith.

Born in Delhi, Badoni missed an opportunity to make it to the U-19 World Cup for India in 2018. However, he was part of the U-19 Indian squad for the Asia cup notching up scores of 52*, 68, 25 and 21* in four games respectively. After the Asia Cup, it took him three years again in 2021 to make his debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21.

Although he was part of the playing XI for the first five games, he did not get the chance to bat and was finally given the opportunity against Puducherry. The 22-year-old could not do much damage despite being sent up to open the innings and was dismissed for just 8. Sometimes, the best of players needs the biggest of stages to excel, and certainly, it was proved in his case.

The batter recently had given an interview thanking his mentor Gautam Gambhir for instilling confidence in him and allowing him to play his natural game. Badoni’s skipper KL Rahul had also named him as the Lucknow Super Giants’ “Baby Ab”.

It is no doubt that Badoni has got all the shots in the book to excel in the IPL and can play the 360-degree shots as well. He will face some stiff competition once the all-rounders like Marcus Stoinis and Jason Holder return to the set-up and will have to make use of every chance that comes his way in the coming days.