Ayush Badoni – a product despite the system
Mumbai Mar 29 PTI Ignored and overlooked Delhi youngster Ayush Badoni finally found his moment of glory when he made a stunning IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants with a maiden fifty hereThe 22-year-old who slammed a 41-ball 54 against Gujarat Titans on Monday is a product despite the systemOne of the last products of the late iconic cricket coach Tarak Sinha Badoni had impressed at India Under-19 level smashing an unbeaten 185 in a youth Test against Sri Lanka in 2018 He also had a good outing at the Asia Cup as he hit 52 off just 28 balls in the finalBut all that didnt translate into him getting a place in the Delhi team as Badoni was repeatedly ignored by the Delhi selectors for the Ranji Trophy and the Vijay Hazare TrophyHe was overlooked in the previous IPL auctions too before being handpicked by former India opener Gautam Gambhir this yearI didnt have any idea because my name had been coming up in the auctions for three years and I was unsold Badoni said at the post-match press conferenceSo this time when my name cropped up my heartbeat was fast I didnt know I had given trials of two three teams it had been happening since two-three years I was not getting pickedI am grateful as Lucknow picked me and now I need to perform and make my team win I will try my best Badoni played only five T20s in last years Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Mumbai where he got a chance to bat only once scoring 8 runs He is yet to play the coveted Ranji TrophyYes there has been little struggle for three years I did not get a chance from Delhi because of which I enhanced my game have tried new shots learnt new shots and that has helped me in T20s he saidBadoni gave a glimpse of his 360 degree shot-making skills when he slog-swept Rashid Khans googly for a six hooked Lockie Ferguson for a maximum and shuffled across and sent Hardik Pandya across the fine legWhen I got selected for Lucknow I scored fifty plus in both the practice matches and that pleased Gautam Bhaiya and coaches Vijay Sir Vijay Dahiya and Andy Flower and so they decided to send me ahead of Krunal Pandya and so I batted ahead of him he addedBadoni acknowledged Gambhirs role saying the former player backed himGautam Bhaiya has backed me a lot and he just advised me one thing to play my natural game and play the ball not the bowler he saidSo that gave me a lot of confidence He asked me to play my natural game while saying that the senior players would see the match situation and because of which I could play freely In the game Badoni stitched a crucial partnership with senior batter Deepak Hooda who advised him to take his time to settle downHooda bhai said you are a natural hitter and your game is attacking so take your time and need not rush as a lot of overs are remaining So I thought about doing the same thing to take time and then I will back my instincts the right-handed batter signed off PTI NRB ATK APA ATK
Mumbai Mar 29 PTI Ignored and overlooked Delhi youngster Ayush Badoni finally found his moment of glory when he made a stunning IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants with a maiden fifty hereThe 22-year-old who slammed a 41-ball 54 against Gujarat Titans on Monday is a product despite the systemOne of the last products of the late iconic cricket coach Tarak Sinha Badoni had impressed at India Under-19 level smashing an unbeaten 185 in a youth Test against Sri Lanka in 2018 He also had a good outing at the Asia Cup as he hit 52 off just 28 balls in the finalBut all that didnt translate into him getting a place in the Delhi team as Badoni was repeatedly ignored by the Delhi selectors for the Ranji Trophy and the Vijay Hazare TrophyHe was overlooked in the previous IPL auctions too before being handpicked by former India opener Gautam Gambhir this yearI didnt have any idea because my name had been coming up in the auctions for three years and I was unsold Badoni said at the post-match press conferenceSo this time when my name cropped up my heartbeat was fast I didnt know I had given trials of two three teams it had been happening since two-three years I was not getting pickedI am grateful as Lucknow picked me and now I need to perform and make my team win I will try my best Badoni played only five T20s in last years Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Mumbai where he got a chance to bat only once scoring 8 runs He is yet to play the coveted Ranji TrophyYes there has been little struggle for three years I did not get a chance from Delhi because of which I enhanced my game have tried new shots learnt new shots and that has helped me in T20s he saidBadoni gave a glimpse of his 360 degree shot-making skills when he slog-swept Rashid Khans googly for a six hooked Lockie Ferguson for a maximum and shuffled across and sent Hardik Pandya across the fine legWhen I got selected for Lucknow I scored fifty plus in both the practice matches and that pleased Gautam Bhaiya and coaches Vijay Sir Vijay Dahiya and Andy Flower and so they decided to send me ahead of Krunal Pandya and so I batted ahead of him he addedBadoni acknowledged Gambhirs role saying the former player backed himGautam Bhaiya has backed me a lot and he just advised me one thing to play my natural game and play the ball not the bowler he saidSo that gave me a lot of confidence He asked me to play my natural game while saying that the senior players would see the match situation and because of which I could play freely In the game Badoni stitched a crucial partnership with senior batter Deepak Hooda who advised him to take his time to settle downHooda bhai said you are a natural hitter and your game is attacking so take your time and need not rush as a lot of overs are remaining So I thought about doing the same thing to take time and then I will back my instincts the right-handed batter signed off PTI NRB ATK APA ATK
