GT vs LSG: DDCA Ignored My Suggestion To Include Ayush Badoni In Delhi Team - Atul Wassan

Former Indian pacer Atul Wassan revealed that Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) had ignored his suggestion to include Ayush Badoni in the state team. Badoni played a valiant knock for IPL debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday to help the KL Rahul-led side post a respectable score against Gujarat Titans in their first match of IPL 2022.

Gujarat pacer Mohammed Shami’s fiery spell in the early overs reduced LSG to 29/4 inside five overs, that is when Badoni joined forces with all-rounder Deepak Hooda and together the duo resurrected their team’s innings as they stitched 87 runs for the fifth wicket.

GT vs LSG: Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda bails out LSG after early batting collapse

Badoni played the role of a second-fiddle during his alliance with Hooda but switched his gears in the slog overs, he smashed the likes of Shami and Lockie Ferguson. The 22-year-old pummelled four boundaries and three sixes in his 41-ball 54 at a strike rate of 131.71.

However, the Delhi player came into the IPL with the slightest experience of five T20 matches at the domestic level. Badoni was part of the India U19 team’s title triumph Asia Cup in 2018 but couldn’t make his way to the U19 World Cup in New Zealand.

DDCA ignored my suggestion: Atul Wassan on selecting Ayush Badoni

Wassan, who is the chairman of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) at DDCA, said the selectors overlooked Badoni in the Delhi state team. The former Indian pacer wants the youngster to dream higher and stay down to earth.

“They ignored my suggestion. They, instead, picked Unmukt Chand. I walked out of the meeting. As a CAC chairman, I could interfere but I chose not to, in the selectors’ jurisdiction,” Wassan told Cricbuzz.

“I am happy he made the best use of his chance. He is a very plucky player and I hope he would not let the success go to his head. He should aim to play for India,” he added. 

LSG lost the match by five wickets as Titans all-rounder Rahul Tewatia blazed 40 runs off 24 balls in the slog overs to cruise his side to victory in their first game of the tournament.

Also Read: GT vs LSG: All You Need To Know About Lucknow Super Giants Batsman Ayush Badoni