Ayush Badoni’s switch-hit, the talk of the town

Ayush Badoni could be the man to keep an eye on in the next domestic season and also at the next Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction.

The right-handed batsman, who is leading the South Delhi Superstarz in the Delhi Premier League (DPL), is toying with the bowlers as if he is batting at the nets without any fear of dismissal.

Sixteen years ago, Kevin Pietersen caught the cricketing world’s attention with his switch-hits. Few batsman have had the audacity since then to try it.

But if Badoni, the 23-year-old Delhi youngster who plays for Sonnet Club and has represented the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League, continues in the vein he is playing, he will be the one exhibiting such strokes regularly in near future.

He played this shot against Purani Dilli 6 on Monday (August 26) as his team racked up 235, beating their own previous high of 228 (made on Sunday, August 25) in DPL. On Wednesday evening at the Ferozeshah Kotla grounds of Arun Jaitley Stadium, he scored a 32-ball 76 (8x4s, 5x6s) against Central Delhi Kings to take the team to 254/5, a new high in the tournament. The switch-hit was out in full bloom and although it led to his end again just as it had the other day against Dilli 6, it was delightful.

Even as Money Grewal made the ball talk, Badoni was up to it. He hooked, then hit a straight six over long-off and then a straight four in one over of the pace bowler.

He also took 20 runs off the bowling of left-arm spinner Yogesh Sharma as the Superstarz reached 100 in eight overs.

“I have been practicing for some time now that shot, the reverse sweep as a left-hander. Looked good in the nets, so I thought why not try it in the match. I got one right, got out in the next [against Purani Dilli]. So whenever I am set at the crease, I try that shot,” said Badoni while answering a question from www.thedelhijunction.com.

Badoni now has 320 runs at an average of 53.33 in the tournament. He is the second highest run-getter, just behind teammate Priyansh Arya (432 runs). Arya was again in top form on Wednesday as he scored 88 (7x4s, 6x6s) for his fourth half-century of the tournament. He also has a hundred.     

The two added 117 off 51 balls with Badoni scoring 76 of those runs.

The total was enough for them to demoralise the Kings, who folded for 132 in just 17.4 overs.

Brief Scores

South Delhi Superstarz 254/5 in 20 overs (Priyansh Arya 88 off 42, Ayush Badoni 76 off 32, Rajneesh Dadar 2/35, Harish Dagar 2/35) beat Central Delhi Kings 132/10 in 17.4 overs (Lakshay Thareja 32 off 22, Dhruv Kaushik 18 off 8, Digvesh Rathi 3/12, Anshuman Hooda 2/10)

Tags : Delhi Premier League, Cricket, Ayush Badoni, Priyansh Arya, South Delhi Superstarz, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Ferozeshah Kotla