Aakash Chopra questions Ayush Badoni’s selection for IND vs NZ 2026 ODIs

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra questioned the selectors for giving a maiden ODI call-up to Ayush Badoni for the remaining two ODIs against New Zealand. Badoni was named as the replacement after Washington Sundar was ruled out with a side strain.

Chopra noted that Badoni has not even scored 1000 runs in List A cricket. Badoni has played 27 List A games in which he has scored 693 runs, including a century and 5 fifties, and has picked up 18 wickets.

“Washington Sundar is not there. So Ayush Badoni has come in his place. I think the Indian selection committee was looking for a like-for-like replacement, and that’s not available. Ayush Badoni bowled a lot and batted for India A. He is also bowling for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and is economical,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“So the selection committee went for Ayush Badoni. It could be a slightly unpopular choice because he hasn’t scored even 1,000 runs in List A cricket. He doesn’t have those many wickets, seeing which you would say he has broken the door and come in,” he added.

The renowned commentator highlighted that Rinku Singh might not have been considered for selection as he is not a regular spinner.

“You might be wondering why Riyan Parag couldn’t have come, or why Rinku Singh couldn’t have been thought about. Riyan Parag has just started coming back after a very long injury layoff. Another middle-order batter was available in the form of Rinku Singh. Although he has started bowling a lot now, he is not basically a bowler. He is a batter who bowls occasionally,” he said.

The former Delhi cricketer opined that Ayush Badoni is unlikely to get a place in the playing XI in the remaining two games.

“I think the selectors didn’t see any better option than Ayush Badoni at the moment. However, will he get to play? He does get a chance to bowl occasionally and has even bowled in the IPL at times. However, I don’t think his bowling is that good that he can bowl eight to ten overs in ODIs, unless something has changed recently, which I might not have seen. Then I will stand corrected, but there might not be a place for him in the XI,” Chopra observed.

The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at Rajkot on Wednesday.