IPL 2022: Ayush Badoni - a product despite the system

Badoni finally found his moment of glory when he made a stunning IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants with a maiden fifty here. The 22-year-old, who slammed a 41-ball 54 against Gujarat Titans on Monday, is a product despite the system. One of the last products of the late iconic cricket coach Tarak Sinha, Badoni had impressed at India Under-19 level, smashing an unbeaten 185 in a youth Test against Sri Lanka in 2018. He also had a good outing at the Asia Cup as he hit 52 off just 28 balls in the final.

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Mohammed Shami's three wickets and a batting blitz by Rahul Tewatia helped Gujarat Titans begin their IPL journey with a thrilling win over fellow debutants Lucknow Super Giants on Monday. Chasing 159 for victory, Gujarat were in trouble at 78-4 but Tewatia smashed an unbeaten 40 off 24 balls to

But all that didn't translate into him getting a place in the Delhi team as Badoni was repeatedly ignored by the Delhi selectors for the Ranji Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was overlooked in the previous IPL auctions too before being handpicked by former India opener Gautam Gambhir this year. "I didn't have any idea, because my name had been coming up (in the auctions) for three years and I was unsold," Badoni said at the post-match press conference. "So this time when my name cropped up, my heartbeat was fast. I didn't know, I had given trials of two, three teams, it had been happening since two-three years, I was not getting picked. "I am grateful as Lucknow picked me, and now I need to perform and make my team win, I will try my best."

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