Ayush Badoni has a strong character who likes to mind his own business and doesn't speak or smile much.
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Young Delhi batter Ayush Badoni is one of the many young talents who have impressed in the IPL 2022. He scored a half-century on his IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to announce himself in the biggest T20 franchise league in the world and later chipped in with cameo knocks. His is a mindset of a finisher who likes to take the match to the last over and win. It is, perhaps, his mindset which has helped him overcome several hurdles in his still fledgling career.
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Badoni is a special talent and will go the distance if nurtured carefully. He has almost three shots for every ball and is currently in the right hands at the moment as he continues to be groomed by India great and LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir. His childhood coach Balraj Kumar has, in fact, been a backbone for him and has stood with him when he faced U-16 snub even after scoring three consecutive centuries at the U-14 age group tournament. “Usually kids that young tend to copy a Sachin or Dravid or some big player. But Ayush right from the start was an original. And had great timing.” Balraj told the Indian Express.
Badoni was among the many youngsters who was spotted by India Test great Rahul Dravid. The Test great, then, insisted the chairman of the Cricket Advisory Committee of the DDCA Atul Wassan to take good care of Badoni to help him grow in his career. However, for the youngster, his main focus lies in picking up the brains of his coaches or cricketing greats with his stubborn focus. He is one of those youngsters who only does what he wishes.
“Ayush doesn’t speak or smile much! Even Tarik Sinha sir once told me, ‘Ballu, yeh apni marzi ka raja hai (he does what he wishes!)’. Even his aunts have asked me, ‘why doesn’t he speak to us more!’ Which is true and which is what I believe will take him a long way. He has that attitude. You can call it what you like; I see it as a special player’s focus and mindset,” Balraj said.
“Not everyone has it; he does. He has worked closely with many big names from Rahul Dravid to Sinha sir, and he will take from them what he sees as suiting his game, but he isn’t a pleaser, if you know what I mean. Apni marzi ka maalik hai; he is sure of what he wants and will do that with a stubborn focus. Now that he has finally got the chance, he will definitely grab it. He will make it to the top.”
