LSG vs GT: Ayush Badoni Is 'Baby AB de Villiers' For Us- Skipper KL Rahul
Published - 29 Mar 2022, 01:11 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:06 AM
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper KL Rahul lavished praise on youngster Ayush Badoni for his magnificent knock on IPL debut against Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.
Badoni scored 54 in 41 balls against a formidable bowling attack of Gujarat Titans led by Mohammed Shami.
Ayush Badoni’s stellar IPL debut against Gujarat Titans
Shami’s fiery spell in the early overs reduced LSG to 29/4 at one stage before Badoni joined all-rounder Deepak Hooda at the crease. The duo bailed Lucknow out from suffering a paltry score in the first innings as they combined for an 87-run stand for the fifth wicket to push their side to a respectable total of 158/6 in 20 overs.
Badoni played some spectacular shots against the searing pace of Shamia and Lockie Ferguson and the magic deliveries of Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan. The 22-year-old hit four boundaries and three sixes in his gritty innings before he departed in the final over to Varun Aaron.
It was not ideal for Ayush Badoni to walk out with us four down: KL Rahul
Rahul acclaimed the daunting efforts of the Delhi youngster and gave him the nickname ‘Baby AB’ which has already been given to South Africa’s prodigious player Dewald Brevis, who is with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022. The LSG captain hopes Badoni can carry his performance throughout the tournament.
“He’s (Ayush Badoni) baby AB. He has been phenomenal from the first day. For a little boy, he packs a punch and plays 360 degrees, so happy for him as he grabbed the opportunity. It was not ideal for him to walk out with us four down but he did well under pressure and hopefully, he can continue doing that,” Rahul told official broadcasters after LSG’s five-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans.
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
