Former India cricket team chief selector K Srikkanth has levelled a serious allegation against head coach Gautam Gambhir over the inclusion of Ayush Badoni for the remainder of IND vs NZ ODI series. The Delhi star was named as Washington Sundar’s replacement after the latter sustained a rib-injury during the 1st ODI in Vadodara.
Srikkanth has claimed that there is no logic behind replacing Sundar with Badoni and that the latter hasn’t performed well in IPL. This isn’t the first time that Srikkanth has levelled such allegations. In the past, he has also equated Harshit Rana’s inclusion to his closeness with Gambhir, claiming that it was favourtism.
Gambhir-LSG link behind Badoni’s call-up?
In a video on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth claimed that there was no reason for Badoni to be a part of the IND vs NZ ODI series apart from the fact that he played under Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship in LSG. The current Indian head coach played the role of mentor for the Super Giants in two seasons – 2022 and 2023. Ayush has been a part of LSG since his IPL debut, having played 56 matches for the franchise and amassed 963 runs.
“What kind of door is this? Bring two or three trucks, take them, and go through and break the door. Really, I don’t understand what it is. Out of Axar, Badoni, Nitish Reddy, and Gaikwad, which two must really be in the team? Badoni played at LSG, and Gambhir was the mentor there. I don’t see any other reason,” Srikkanth said.
Srikkanth questioned Badoni’s ability as a bowling all-rounder and wondered how he was a like-for-like replacement for Sundar. On Monday, Delhi head coach Sarandeep Singh had claimed that Ayush had worked ver hard to perfect his off-spn which was why he earned a maiden ODI call-up. Apart from IPL, Badoni also has experience of playing for India A and has been a regular fixture for India’s second team, especially in white-ball cricket. In List-A matches, the 26-year-old has close to 700 runs at 36.47 and at a strike rate of 93.27.
“Ayush Badoni, with this performance, [had] no chance. What is his track record in the IPL also? IPL and one-day cricket are different. He has not done anything great. He is not a guy who can take the match away from you. Can he come at number six and hit sixes also? I don’t understand. What rubbish is this? How is he considered a bowling all-rounder?,” Srikkanth added.
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