Former Team India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has criticized the selection of Ayush Badoni in the Indian ODI team, calling the decision “nonsense”. The former chief selector also questioned head coach Gautam Gambhir’s thinking behind this appointment and said that he could not understand the logic used by the selectors.
Badoni was included in India’s ODI squad for the remaining series against New Zealand. The batting all-rounder was brought into the team despite not being in form during the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy. India made one change after Washington Sundar was ruled out with an injury after the series opener.
What type of door is this? – Chris Srikkanth criticized Gautam Gambhir
Kris Srikkanth said that Ayush Badoni’s selection could be related to his IPL connection. Srikkanth said that Badoni plays for Lucknow Supergiants, where Gautam Gambhir previously worked as a mentor. He said that the selectors ignored other options like Axar Patel and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
“What kind of door is this? Get two or three trucks, take them and go inside and break the door. Actually, I don’t understand what it is,” Srikanth said on his YouTube channel ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.
He said, “Among Akshar, Badoni, Nitish Reddy and Gaikwad, which two should really be in the team? Badoni used to play in LSG and he (Gambhir) was a mentor there. I don’t see any other reason. What else could it be? On what basis? You have to have some wisdom in the selection.”
Axar Patel is a real all-rounder – Chris Srikkanth on Ayush Badoni’s selection
Kris Srikkanth said that IPL performance should not be made the main criterion for selecting players in ODIs. He said that Ayush Badoni’s record is not worthy of a place at this level. Srikkanth also said that if the team needed an all-rounder, Axar Patel should have been the obvious choice.
“There are no chances for Ayush Badoni with this performance. What is his track record in IPL too? IPL and ODI cricket are different. He has not done anything good,” he said.
“He is not a guy who can take matches away from you. Can he come at number six and hit sixes as well? I don’t understand.”
Srikkanth said, “What nonsense is this? How is he considered a bowling all-rounder? If there is a shortage of an all-rounder then why not bring Axar Patel? He is a genuine all-rounder in all formats.”
Ayush Badoni’s recent numbers compared to Axar Patel
Ayush Badoni has got modest returns in recent competitions. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, he scored 16 runs in three innings at an average of 8.00. With the ball, he bowled 22 overs and took four wickets, including 3/30 against Railways.
In his List-A career, Badoni has taken 18 wickets in 20 innings at an economy rate of 4.54. With the bat, he has scored 693 runs in 22 innings, which includes one century and five half-centuries. In IPL, he has scored 963 runs in 56 matches at an average of 26.75 and strike rate of 138.56 with six half-centuries.
Meanwhile, Axar Patel scored 75 runs and took three wickets in two innings in his last ODI series. During the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Axar played two matches for Gujarat, scoring 130 runs with the bowling of 2/27 against Andhra Pradesh and adding 73 runs against Odisha.
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