Taking the Indian Premier League by storm, 22-year-old Delhi batsman Ayush Badoni showed his composure and class as he featured in difficult circumstances for the Lucknow Super Giants in their first game of the IPL 2022 against the other freshmen who Gujarat Titans, a fifty hit.
Ayush Badoni had very little T20 experience, having scored just 8 runs ahead of his IPL debut on Monday. He had no first class or List A experience and his most recent competitive appearance was last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Although Ayush had impressed for India at U19 level, scoring 200 runs in the 2018 Asian Cup U19 and an impressive 185 in a youth test against Sri Lanka, Ayush failed to really shine on the home circuit in Delhi.
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However, the pocket-sized batsman was no stranger to Lucknow’s scouting team and management. Ayush Badoni had been groomed by Tarak Sinha, the celebrated Delhi-based coach who had also worked with Rishabh Pant.
Ayush Badoni repaid the faith the Lucknow Super Giants had placed in him, hitting 54 balls from just 41, smashing sixes against the likes of Gujarat Titans’ Rashid Khan and Lockie Ferguson. He had joined Deepak Hooda when LSG, after a stunning spell by Mohammed Shami on 4/29. staggered.
Badoni took his time, however, playing second fiddle to Hooda, who hit fifty before launching the attack on the GT bowlers.
Our batsmen have set a goal of 159 in the first innings of our tournament #First fit
Now it’s time for our bowling attack#AbApniBaariHai#LSG #GTvsLSG #TataIPL #LucknowSuperGiants #PehliBaar pic.twitter.com/XDPLTjU2nz
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 28, 2022
Ayush Badoni became the first man in IPL history to hit a fifty on debut while batting at No. 6 or below, but the Delhi youngster said he didn’t even know he had hit a fifty on Monday.
“I wasn’t looking at the score, I was just batting and not thinking about my fifty. I just wanted to play my natural game. I didn’t realize I got a fifty until I got there that night. I was very nervous. After hitting the first limit, I got confidence,” Badoni told the broadcasters.
LSG’S ‘BABY AB’
Lucknow may have lost the first set, but the KL Rahul side took a lot of positives from their brave performance. One of them is surely the knock of Ayush Badoni. Captain KL Rahul is mighty impressed with his new “Baby AB”. The LSG skipper said the Delhi man could play 360 degrees and knock out bowlers with ease, comparing him to AB de Villiers.
“He (Ayush) is our baby AB. He was phenomenal from day one. For a little boy, he packs a punch and plays 360 degrees.
“So happy for him that he took the opportunity. It wasn’t ideal for him to lose with the four of us but he did well under pressure and hopefully he can continue that,” added Rahul.
