Lucknow Super Giants greenhorn batter Ayush Badoni has been a shining light in his team’s first two matches. Badoni has walked out to bat in these matches when his team has been in a precarious situation and he has risen to the occasion.
The youngster joined forces with Evin Lewis against Chennai Super Kings in the 18th over after the dismissal of Deepak Hooda at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday.
Badoni, who was just one IPL game old, was facing an IPL great, Dwayne Bravo, who had leapfrogged Lasith Malinga’s tally of 171 wickets to become the most successful bowler in the tournament. However, the young gun kept his cool and rotated the strike against one of the best death bowlers of this era.
Badoni revealed that the plan was not to take risks against Dwayne Bravo and it worked wonders. The penultimate over was given to Shivam Dube and Badoni dispatched him for a six on the first ball of the over despite being new to the crease. However such was the match situation and the youngster was able to put pressure on the medium pacer.
25 runs were taken by Badoni and Evin Lewis against Shivam Dube and it swung the pendulum in Lucknow Super Giants’ favor. Badoni scored a fine cameo of 9-ball 19 whereas Lewis smashed 55 runs off just 23 balls to get their team over the line.
Ayush Badoni said in the post-match press conference, “The plan was not to take risks against Bravo. But once only two overs were left, we had to take risks because I guess we needed 28 runs (34). So we went all out.”
The 22-year old revealed that LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir has told him to play his natural game and he has done so in the first two IPL matches of his promising career.
“I know my game, so they just told me to play my natural game. They knew that if I and Evin (Lewis) are successful in hitting the big strokes, then we could win. So, there was no such message. It was just about playing our shots and we executed it well.”
Badoni added the best thing he has learned from the big players is to be yourself on the field and give your 120%.
“The best thing I have learnt from big players is to be yourself. Even if there are big players around, don’t lose your individuality. Be natural and then it doesn’t matter who you are playing with or against.”
LSG will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy.
