Gautam Gambhir under fire over Ayush Badoni's surprise call-up for NZ ODIs: 'What rubbish is this'

 

Former India cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth is baffled at Ayush Badoni's inclusion in the India squad for the New Zealand series. Badoni received a surprise call-up after Washington Sundar was ruled out due to injury. Badoni is not a like to like replacement for Sundar, who is a bowling all-rounder, and India already had Nitish Reddy in the squad. India could have included Ruturaj Gaikwad, Axar Patel, or even Devdutt Padikkal, who has shown great form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but the selectors, much to the surprise of many, picked Badoni.

Srikkanth slammed Gambhir and accused him of favouritism, saying that he preferred Badoni, whom he coached during his stint at the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

"Out of Axar (Patel), Badoni, Nitish Reddy, and (Ruturaj) Gaikwad, which two must really be in the team? Badoni played at LSG and he (Gambhir) was the mentor there. I don't see any other reason. What else can it be? On what basis? You should have some sense in selection," Srikkanth said, speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

"What kind of door is this? Bring two or three trucks, take them and go through and break the door," he further said.

'Badoni Can't Take A Game Away From Teams' - Kris Srikkanth

Srikkanth questioned the logic behind Badoni's inclusion, saying that he is yet to prove his credentials as a match-winner. Notably, Badoni averages nearly 58 in first-class cricket, but it dips to 36.47 in List A.

"Ayush Badoni with this performance, no chance. What is his track record in the IPL also? IPL and one-day cricket is different. He has not done anything great," he said.

"He is not a guy who can take the match away from you. Can he come at number six and hit sixes also? I don't understand.

"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 added.

Ayush Badoni Or Nitish Reddy?

India would be tempted to play Nitish Reddy in Rajkot, even though the wicket won't assist the pacers much. Reddy is in the scheme of things for the ODI World Cup 2027, as a back-up to Hardik Pandya, and the team might want to use this opportunity to give him much-needed game time.

Stay updated with the latest and breaking news on Times Now. Get latest India News, World News, Business News, Sports News, Viral News and Education News also explore Entertainment News and Lifestyle Tips.The controversy surrounding the surprise call-up of Ayush Badoni to the Indian ODI squad for the ongoing series against New Zealand (January 2026) has centered on allegations of favouritism against head coach Gautam Gambhir.¹

The backlash erupted after Badoni was named as the replacement for the injured Washington Sundar, who suffered a rib injury during the first ODI in Vadodara.²

1. The "What Rubbish" Critique³

The specific quote, "What rubbish is this," came from former BCCI Chief Selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth.⁴ Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth slammed the selection, questioning the logic of picking Badoni over more established players like Axar Patel or Nitish Reddy.⁵

• The LSG Connection: Srikkanth and several fans pointed out that Badoni played for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL during Gambhir's tenure as mentor.⁶ They alleged that this personal history, rather than performance, drove the selection.⁷

• The All-rounder Debate: Critics argued that Sundar (a primary off-spinner) was replaced by Badoni (a middle-order batter who bowls part-time spin), which they felt disrupted the team balance.⁸

2. The Statistical Controversy

The primary reason for the "fire" under Gambhir is Badoni's recent form in domestic cricket:

• Vijay Hazare Trophy (2025-26): Badoni had a poor run leading up to the call-up, scoring just 16 runs in three innings (averaging 5.33).⁹

• List A Career: His overall List A average sits around 36, which many argued does not "break the door down" for a national call-up when compared to other domestic performers.¹⁰

• The "IPL Bias" Charge: Fans on social media accused the management of "fast-tracking" IPL stars into the ODI format while ignoring consistent domestic grinders.¹¹

3. The Team Management's Defense

Despite the criticism, the Indian team management, via batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, defended the move:¹²

• Like-for-Like Role: Kotak explained that they view Badoni as a "utility player" who can provide right-arm off-breaks, which is crucial against a New Zealand lineup featuring multiple left-handers (Conway, Bracewell, Nicholls).¹³

• India 'A' & Duleep Trophy Success: The management highlighted his strong performance in the 2025 Duleep Trophy, where he was the fourth-highest run-getter with an average of 153.50, and his consistent outings for India ‘A’.¹⁴

4. Broader Context: Injury Crisis

The selection comes at a time when the Indian camp is grappling with multiple injuries. Aside from Washington Sundar, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant (side strain) and Tilak Varma (groin) were also ruled out of parts of the New Zealand tour, forcing the selectors to look for versatile options quickly.¹⁵

Would you like me to look up the playing XI for the 2nd ODI in Rajkot to see if Badoni made his debut?

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