'Earlier, I used to do batting, but...': Ayush Badoni's big revelation on how he gets India call-up for ODIs vs New Zealand

Delhi star Ayush Badoni revealed that he found out about his first call-up to the Indian team just before Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy quarterfinal against Vidarbha. He even told teammate Priyansh Arya that he might have to lead the team in the game, with the possibility of an India call-up hanging over him.

Badoni played for Delhi in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy before joining the Indian squad ahead of the second ODI at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium. He is yet to make his international debut, as fellow all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was selected in the playing XI instead of Washington Sundar.

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Why Badoni added to India's ODI squad vs NZ

Notably, Badoni was added to India's ODI as Washington Sundar's injury replacement. Sundar got an injury during the first ODI against New Zealand, which ruled him out of the remainder of the ODI series and the T20I series against BlackCaps.

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Badoni on maiden Call-up

The young cricketer said he learned about his India call-up just a day before the knockout match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

“I was with the Delhi team, I was captain there and we had a match the next day, quarter finals against Vidarbha, it was then that I got to know (about the call-up). Priyansh (Arya) was my roommate and I told him that it could happen and he may have to lead the side because I might have to go," Badoni said while speaking to BCCI.

“Earlier, I used to do batting, but since the last two years, I have been focusing a lot on my bowling. I always feel like I can take wickets and contribute to the team with my bowling, so I got the benefit of being an all-rounder," Badoni said.

“I have bowled a lot for Delhi and got wickets, so I have benefitted from it," the 26-year-old said.

Badoni claimed four wickets across five games in this season’s Vijay Hazare Trophy, highlighted by a brilliant spell of 3/30 against Railways.