WATCH: Lucknow Super Giants star Ayush Badoni slamming 185 in Youth Test against Sri Lanka in 2018

Ayush Badoni emerged as the star of Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) IPL 2022 opening game against fellow new entrants Gujarat Titans. The young right-hand batter smashed a highly impressive 41-ball 54 after walking into a difficult situation.

Coming out to bat at No.6 with his team reeling at 29/4, the 22-year-old promising cricketer took the game back to the opposition and helped LSG recover to eventually post a fighting 158/6 in their allotted 20 overs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The talent on display immediately caught the fans’ attention as Ayush Badoni looked unfazed on his IPL debut for the Giants and batted with great freedom and skill against Titans’ pacers and spinners. His most memorable stroke came against Titans’ quickest bowler Lockie Ferguson, whom he smashed for a maximum off the pull shot.

But much before his eye-catching IPL debut, the batter perhaps gave the strongest example of his promise and ability playing in Sri Lanka in a Youth Test series against the hosts back in 2018, slamming an incredible 185 in trying circumstances at No.7 for the Indian U-19s.

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When Ayush Badoni smashed Sri Lanka U-19 for 185 off 205

Playing the first Youth Test match on the trip at the NCC ground in Colombo, Ayush Badoni took apart the Sri Lankan bowling for a marathon knock of 185 with a strike-rate of 90.24 on a dry surface in the Island nation.

The young batter from Delhi arrived at the crease with the visitors 290/5, having taken a 46-run lead at that point. But Badoni’s prolific knock took them their first-innings advantage to a massive 345, something the hosts never recovered from.

Ayush Badoni looked technically solid against fast bowlers but the most amazing aspect of his innings was how severe he looked from the get-go against spin. Facing spin from either end, Badoni used his feet to great effect and hit the Sri Lankans in equal measure on the front and the backfoot.

Despite his evident ability, Badoni hasn’t yet transitioned smoothly to the senior domestic game. But the 22-year-old now has the chance to shine in the biggest T20 league in the world, consistent performances in which could well unlock doors to higher honours.