Delhi cricketer Ayush Badoni has shared his excitement and thoughts on receiving his maiden call-up to the Indian ODI squad during the ongoing three-match series against New Zealand. The 26-year-old was included in the squad after Washington Sundar was ruled out due to an injury following the first ODI. The series is currently tied 1-1, with both teams gearing up for the deciding match at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, on Sunday.                        

Badoni revealed that his transformation from a pure batter to an all-rounder over the past two years played a crucial role in earning him this opportunity. “Earlier, I used to bat, but since the last two years, I've been focusing a lot on my bowling. I always feel that I can take wickets and contribute to the team with my bowling. So I got the benefit of being an all-rounder,” he said. His consistent performances with both bat and ball for Delhi ensured he remained on the selectors’ radar.

Reflecting on the moment he got the news, Badoni recalled, “I was with the Delhi team, I was captain there and our next day match was the quarter-finals against Vidarbha. That's when I got to know about it. Priyansh was my roommate, so I told him that this could happen… it was a great feeling and I feel very grateful and happy that I got this opportunity.”

Badoni also emphasized learning from senior teammates. Having played with or against many of them in domestic and franchise cricket, he tries to absorb as much knowledge as possible. “A lot of the seniors in our team are legends… I try to learn from them when I bat or bowl. I feel that it enhances my game,” he added. Badoni expressed his happiness about bonding with teammates like Harshit, Arshdeep, and Shreyas, highlighting the camaraderie in the squad.

With this call-up, Ayush Badoni looks forward to making his mark on the international stage, leveraging his all-round skills and learning from India’s senior players to contribute to the team’s success.