Anubhav Sengupta, Xtra Time : Lucknow Super Giants’ young batter Ayush Badoni has been a revelation in the ongoing Indian Premier League so far as the 22 year old has been playing the role of that elusive finisher which every franchise looks for.
But there has been a long struggle and story in making the player that Badoni is today. And on Saturday, Xtra Time spoke in an exclusive interview to Ayush’s coach Devender Sharma, who has been behind all of this throughout the last 12 years.
Q) Ayush Badoni has been a revelation in the ongoing IPL. What would you like to say ?
Ayush Badoni has been practicing in our club and under me for the last 12 years. He has been a very natural player from the start, right from when he came to our club for the trial. You must have seen him in his first match in the IPL this year. When he was playing alongside Deepak Hooda, it didn’t look like Hooda has played for India and this young lad is only playing his first match in the IPL. A guy who has been constantly ignored by Delhi for the last three years.
He has been so distressed after each time and called me up saying, “Sir it didn’t happen this time too. I didn’t get selected.” And I used to motivate him and tell him that you keep playing well and improve your game. The good things will eventually happen. I hope Delhi gives him a chance.
Q) We’ve heard that Delhi Capitals rejected him even after scoring fifties in trial games. So what would you like to say ?
Yes. They did. The first time he went to a trial was in Delhi’s Roshnara club under Saba Karim. He scored 70 runs in 15 balls and called me up to say the details and I told him you played well as usually I do.
The second time, the trial was to be done under Pravin Amre in Mumbai. But he didn’t come, so Saba Karim was present in that trial too. Ayush scored a 17 ball 70 there too. But they didn’t select him on both occasions. And I kept on motivating him.
Coming to Delhi’s state side, they had organized a trial in Roshnara club where Ayush scored a double hundred. But he didn’t get selected for Delhi’s state side in spite of doing well. And when I called a selector of their, he didn’t pick up the phone. Although the selectors had earlier said, that Badoni is a good cricketer, but they didn’t give him the chance that he deserved.
It is even that the coach of Team India, Rahul Dravid after being appointed in that post enquired on where is Ayush currently, since he had seen him in the nets at an NCA camp in Bangalore and had been mighty impressed by his batting.
Q) How did it feel when he first got picked by the Lucknow Super Giants ? How did that happen ?
The last year, trials didn’t occur due to omicron. So Lucknow Super Giants’ Gautam Gambhir asked for video clips of both his batting and bowling as he knew of Ayush, because they both belong from Delhi and he has been playing well and finishing matches in local cricket circuit.
So after sending clips they selected him for 20,000 and offered him for a trial where he scored a 17 ball 80. Then they gave him a match scenario where he had to score 50 in 17 balls and he did that. When he got selected I organized a different and special net for his practice before the IPL.
Q) How does he handle so much pressure in a huge tournament like IPL ? Do you talk to him regularly even now ?
Let me tell you one honest fact. After scoring fifties in trial matches, Gautam Gambhir told Ayush that he was going to play in Lucknow’s first match against Gujarat Titans. That night he didn’t sleep and the next day he scored a fifty. After the match we had a chat and yes we still talk regularly.
And about the pressure, yes the kid is a seasoned player and he has been playing this role of a finisher for many years now. So he is well accustomed to that pressure and is mentally tough.
Q) What is your message for Ayush ? What do you expect from him in future ? And what would you like to say about the upcoming aspirants who aren’t getting chances till now ?
I obviously expect Ayush to play for the state Delhi and country as well in future. He is aggressive and has performed well whenever he has got the opportunity. I hope he just maintains and plays his natural game.
And for the upcoming cricketers, I would always suggest you to be positive as I’m a very positive person by heart. So, my opinion is you can delay a talent by you can never deny him. The best option is to wait for the opportunity and pounce on it.