Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya – the two Delhi boys have been pretty much in the news since Saturday afternoon. But what did they do? Well, nothing much other than scoring a truckload of runs in a single game of a T20 tournament, called Delhi Premier League (DPL), which was going unnoticed by the locals until the two batters roared at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Right from the next day, the stands started filling up as fans turned up in large numbers, even in hot and humid afternoons.
The 286-run partnership between Badoni and Arya for South Delhi Superstarz not only rocked the streets of the national capital but sought the attention of the people across India and even overseas. It’s safe to say that the young Delhi duo stamped their authority, so much so that Badoni got a congratulatory message from his Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) teammate Nicholas Pooran who is currently playing his trade in the Caribbean Premier League.
“Yes, people are watching, a lot of people are watching, a lot of people like Nicholas Pooran also messaged me and said, ‘You are Blasting’. So, it feels really good when all these people watch you perform and make your team win,” Badoni told CricketNext in an exclusive interview.
Speaking of his LSG roots, Badoni shares a great bond with skipper KL Rahul and calls him an ‘elder brother’. The young batter told CricketNext that he keeps on exchanging words with Rahul and has benefitted from his guidance.
“I keep speaking to Rahul Bhaiyya. He is like an elder brother to me. We share a different kind of a bond,” Badoni said.
Badoni was the top-scorer in that memorable game, against North Delhi Strikers, scoring 165 off 55 balls and smashing a record 19 sixes. He wasn’t aware of the fact that he certainly shattered the record of Universe Boss Chris Gayle for 17 sixes in a T20 innings, but did remember the lessons he learned from former LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir and other coaches which he is currently implying to manage a team full of youngsters from different districts of Delhi.
“I think the best thing I have learnt from them [Gambhir & Co in LSG] is to be fearless. And there should not be any partiality between seniors and juniors if in a team if you have to play as a team. This is something which I’m strictly sticking to. It is a lot of fun to play with those young boys and there is a very lively atmosphere in our team as well, so I’m trying,” Badoni added.
The way Badoni has been performing in the DPL is worth noticing. The 24-year-old is currently the second-highest run-getter of the tournament, after his teammate Arya, with 515 runs in 8 matches including 5 five fifties and a century. His red-hot form has convinced the people noticing him that the right-hand batter would be retained by the Lucknow Super Giants before the mega-auctions. However, Badoni isn’t putting all those thoughts in his mind.
Since the mega auctions are pretty far, he currently focuses on winning South Delhi the DPL title and performing for Delhi in the upcoming domestic season.
“Auctions are far away so, I’m not thinking too much about it. I trying to be in the present and looking at what I have in my hands currently. DPL is there… I just want to lead my team to a title win,” Badoni said.
“DPL is just like mini IPL for me, where I’m getting quite a good practice for Syed Mushtaq Ali and IPL as well. Whatever runs I’m scoring here, if I take this confidence to the domestic level, it will be beneficial. I’ve been doing well for Delhi but I’m focusing on being more consistent going ahead. Hopefully, I could do it,” he added.
Leading a team is a different ballgame altogether, especially when your teammates don’t have exposure to the big stages. It not only tests your perseverance as a player but also as a leader. But Badoni is enjoying it to the fullest.
“I like captaincy because it adds responsibilities on your shoulders and I like batting under pressure. So, when I got to know that I would lead South Delhi Superstarz, I was pretty happy. It’s going well so far. We are second on the points table and have also qualified for the semis. Hopefully, we will lift the trophy,” he said.
With Gambhir joining Team India as head coach, there could be a possibility that good players whom he has observed from close quarters during his mentorship in the IPL, end up getting an India call-up. It’s a far-sighted thought and Badoni, who learned a few tricks from his Delhi senior, isn’t thinking about it either. His aim now is to win the DPL.
“As I told you I would like to be in the present, I’m not thinking that far. I’m aiming to win the title for South Delhi Superstarz, not about my future at the moment,” Badoni concluded.
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