Revealed- Why Ayush Badoni was selected as a replacement for IND vs NZ ODIs?

Ayush Badoni selected for IND vs NZ ODIs [Source: @Itz_Bl3ze/X]

After Washington Sundar was injured and ruled out of the remainder of the India vs New Zealand ODI series, Ayush Badoni was named as the replacement for the spin-bowling all-rounder.

However, the decision to select Ayush Badoni drew mixed reactions, even though it marked the youngster’s maiden call-up to the Indian ODI squad. While Badoni has promising numbers to his name, many felt that Rinku Singh or Riyan Parag could have been better options for the ODI format.

Batting coach elaborates on Ayush Badoni move

Explaining the move to include Delhi youngster Ayush Badoni in the squad, assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak elaborated on the team management’s thinking ahead of the second ODI against New Zealand on January 14.

Speaking ahead of the press conference, Kotak said that Ayush Badoni has been a consistent performer with the bat in India A one-day matches. He explained that Badoni’s inclusion was a tactical decision, as the team wanted to maintain a six-bowling option instead of going in with just five bowlers if any other player got injured.

"He has been playing, he has been performing, he has played some India A one-day matches and he has performed. Of course, it is the selectors who pick the team, but for any common man, when Washington is out, you cannot normally go with only five bowlers," Kotak said.

“For example, in the last game, if we had only five bowlers and Washington got injured in the fourth or fifth over, then who would have bowled those overs? So every team would like to have a sixth bowling option. Sometimes, if it is an all-rounder like Washington, then it's an equally good bowler; sometimes it might be more of a batter who can bowl," Kotak added.

Ayush Badoni will be a handy option in place of Sundar

Kotak further stressed the importance of having a replacement who could bowl four to five overs if a frontline spin option was ruled out.

"If required, somebody should be able to bowl four or five overs, or even three or four overs, whatever is needed. He has scored a couple of fifties for India A and can bowl. He has performed well in the IPL and white-ball cricket, so good luck to him," he added.

Ayush has played 21 first-class matches, in which he has taken 22 wickets at an average of 16.81. In List A cricket, he averages 36.47 from 27 appearances and has also picked up 18 wickets, with best figures of 3 for 29, while maintaining an economy rate of 4.54.

Is Ayush the best alternative for Washington?

But does that make Ayush a better candidate than Rinku Singh or Riyan Parag? Going by Sitanshu Kotak’s explanation, the answer appears to be yes. While Rinku Singh and Riyan Parag are part-time spin bowlers, they have less bowling credibility than Badoni based on statistics.

Rinku Singh has taken two wickets in T20Is and one wicket in ODIs, although he has had a few notable wicket-taking performances in the UP T20 2025 and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Riyan Parag, despite bowling for South Africa A and picking up one wicket, and claiming an 11-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025–26, does not fully justify selection as a specialist spin-bowling all-rounder or a like-for-like replacement for Washington Sundar.

Hence, from a tactical point of view, Ayush Badoni’s inclusion appears to be a more balanced option than selecting a player who would primarily serve as a batting floater.