'What rubbish is this?': Ex-World Cup winner explodes over Ayush Badoni call-up, hints at favouritism

Ayush Badoni during a training session in Rajkot. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Ayush Badoni’s surprise inclusion in India’s ODI squad for the ongoing series against New Zealand has ignited a fierce debate, with former India captain and ex-BCCI chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth launching a scathing attack on the decision and questioning the very basis of the selection process.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Badoni, drafted in as a replacement for the injured Washington Sundar, was below-par in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy and averages a modest 36.47 in List A cricket, despite a strong first-class record of nearly 58. Yet, his elevation to the ODI squad has drawn sharp criticism from Srikkanth, who did not mince his words while speaking on his YouTube channel.

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“Out of Axar (Patel), Badoni, Nitish Reddy and (Ruturaj) Gaikwad, which two must really be in the team? Badoni played at LSG and he (Gautam Gambhir) was the mentor there. I don’t see any other reason. What else can it be? On what basis?” Srikkanth asked, hinting at favouritism and taking a veiled dig at the India head coach. Srikkanth went further, using a dramatic metaphor to underline his frustration. “What kind of door is this? Bring two or three trucks, take them and go through and break the door,” he said, suggesting that breaking into the Indian team is becoming increasingly difficult for deserving domestic performers.

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The former World Cup winner was equally dismissive of Badoni being labelled an all-rounder. “What rubbish is this? How is he considered a bowling all-rounder? If an all-rounder is missing, why not bring in Axar Patel? He is a genuine all-rounder in all formats,” Srikkanth said, adding that IPL performances should not be used as a shortcut to ODI selection. “IPL and one-day cricket are different. He has not done anything great. He is not a guy who can take the match away from you.” Srikkanth also questioned Badoni’s power-hitting credentials at No. 6 and criticised the inconsistency in selection criteria. “For some players, you are told to score runs. For some, you are picked even if you don’t do anything. That’s absolutely unfair,” he said, while also pointing to Ruturaj Gaikwad’s omission despite a century in a previous ODI series. India’s team management, however, has defended the call-up. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak clarified that Badoni was included purely as a like-for-like option after Sundar’s rib injury. “We couldn’t go into a match with only five bowling options. Badoni can give us four to five overs,” Kotak said, insisting the decision was driven by balance and team requirements, even as the selection debate continues to rage.

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