Ayush Badoni called up to India's ODI squad

New Delhi: Indian cricket team suffered a blow in the ongoing IDFC First Bank ODI series against New Zealand after all-rounder Washington Sundar was forced out of the remainder of the tour with a rib injury sustained during the first ODI in Vadodara. Sundar felt acute discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling and has since been ruled out of the second and third ODIs. The BCCI Medical Team will conduct further scans and consult specialists to determine the recovery timeline before planning his return to action.

In response to this setback, the Men’s Selection Committee has named Ayush Badoni as Sundar’s replacement. Badoni will join the Indian squad in Rajkot ahead of the second ODI and represents an opportunity for the young batter to stake his claim on the international stage.

Know Ayush Badoni

Ayush Badoni, a 26-year-old cricketer from Delhi, is seen as one of India’s most exciting young talents in limited-overs cricket. A right-handed batter with useful right-arm off-break bowling skills, Badoni has made a name for himself as a dynamic middle-order hitter and a dependable finisher, especially in T20 cricket. He rose to prominence through his performances for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and his consistent displays in domestic cricket for Delhi.

Recent batting highlights

Badoni’s batting has been the major driver of his rise. In the IPL 2025 season, he played some of the best cricket of his career, notching a career-best 74 runs off 40 balls against Punjab Kings, showcasing his ability to rebuild innings under pressure and accelerate when needed. In that match, he came in with LSG reeling at 73/5 and orchestrated a courageous innings featuring five fours and five sixes.

Earlier in his IPL career, Badoni made a strong impression with a half-century on debut, and he has several impactful knocks to his name, including a 55 not out in the 2024 season. He scored a fifty in each of the first two IPL seasons -- 2022 and 2023. He also followed it up with two half-centuries in each of the next two seasons -- 2024 and 2025. 

Beyond the IPL, Badoni has excelled in domestic competitions. He scored a double century (204 not out) in the Duleep Trophy for North Zone, underlining his capacity to play big innings in longer formats.

Another instance of his batting prowess came in the Delhi Premier League Season 1, where Badoni smashed an astonishing 165 off just 55 balls, hitting 19 sixes and 8 fours, helping his team post a massive total and clinch victory.

Bowling and all-round contributions

While primarily known for his batting, Badoni’s off-spin bowling adds depth to his skill set. In first-class cricket during the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, he claimed his maiden five-wicket haul, recording impressive figures and breaking key partnerships for Delhi.

His bowling statistics in the IPL may be modest, with best figures of 2/4 against Gujarat Titans in 2025, but they demonstrate his ability to chip in with useful overs when needed.

What Badoni brings to the Indian side

Badoni’s inclusion brings batting depth, aggressive middle-order firepower, tactical flexibility, and part-time spin options—elements that India will value, especially in subcontinental conditions that often demand adaptability from all members of the XI. With his wide range of strokes and growing confidence, Badoni could play a vital role in India’s attempt to clinch the series.

As Sundar focuses on recovery, all eyes will be on Ayush Badoni to seize this opportunity and deliver a performance that could accelerate his journey into India’s core limited-overs setup.

India’s updated squad for 2nd and 3rd ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ayush Badoni

Tags : Ayush Badoni, Indian cricket team, Washington Sundar, ODI, India vs New Zealand