New Delhi: The onset of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw several budding cricketers rising to the top in the world of cricket. Every year, the audience sees new aspiring faces in each and every team. Like every team, this year’s two new teams Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans are expected to explore the new talents of the young cricketers.
The two new teams faced each other at the Wankhede where Lucknow Super Giants unearthed a fine young talent in the form of Ayush Badoni. The 22-year-old champ scooped out his team by scoring 54 off 41 deliveries from the hands of Gujarat Titans. Besides, Ayush Badoni became the first player to score over 50 runs on IPL debut while batting at No. 6 spot or below.
Badoni’s free-hand shots which delivered three sixes and four fours scoring 54 runs in total were worth watching. The champ teamed up with Deepak Hooda who scored 55 off 44 balls including six fours and two sixes. Badoni’s first IPL half-century off 38 balls helped the team to score 156 runs on board.
Although Gujarat Titans chased down the total in 19.4 overs, and Lucknow started their first IPL season with a loss, Badoni was the name on everybody’s lips. The right-handed batsman who previously batted in just one T20 game for Delhi hails from Tarak Sinha’s Sonnet club, which presented Indian cricket with Rishabh Pant.
The 18-year old Badoni showcased his exceptional talent at the U-19 level. He scored an unbeaten 185 off 200 deliveries in a youth Test against Sri Lanka U-19 back in 2018. Although Badoni wasn’t a part of the India Team for the U-19 World Cup, he again shone in the U-19 Asia Cup against the same opposition. He scored 52* off 28 balls and helped India to score the 300-run mark in 50 overs.
The youngster owes to Lucknow Giants mentor, Gautam Gambhir as he was bought at the February auction at the base price of Rs 20 lakh.
During the post-match press conference, Badoni stated, “Gautam bhaiya backed me a lot.” He added, “He told me to play just my natural game. He told me you won’t get the one-odd match, but you will get a proper run. He also told me, ‘you don’t need to play according to the situation. There are senior players to do that. You show us your natural game’.”
“My name had been coming for three consecutive years and I was going unsold every time. I had attended camps of 2-3 teams but I didn’t know if I’d be picked. Lucknow eventually picked me and I am very grateful.”
“After I was picked by Lucknow, I had scores of fifty-plus in two trial games. That impressed Gautam bhaiya and the coaches – Vijay sir and Andy Flower – and hence they were confident of sending me before Krunal Pandya,” he further added.
