IND vs NZ 2026: 'He hasn't scored even 1,000 runs in List A cricket' - Former Indian opener on Ayush Badoni's selection for IND vs NZ 2026 ODIs

Ayush Badoni received a maiden India call-up on Monday, January 12, replacing the injured Washington Sundar for the last two ODIs against New Zealand. The latter hurt himself in the field during the first innings of the first ODI in Vadodara on Sunday and was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the series.

This opened the door for Badoni, a talented and well-known youngster in Indian cricket, who has led Delhi and played crucial knocks for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra, however, believes that this selection could be questioned as Badoni hasn't scored 1,000 runs in List A cricket. In 27 matches, he has aggregated 693 runs at an average of 36.47. With the ball, he has accounted for 18 scalps at 29.72. Chopra opined that India were looking for a like-for-like replacement for Sundar, but that wasn't available.

"Washington Sundar is not there. So Ayush Badoni has come in his place. I think the Indian selection committee was looking for a like-for-like replacement, and that's not available. Ayush Badoni bowled a lot and batted for India A. He is also bowling for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and is economical," Chopra said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.

"So the selection committee went for Ayush Badoni. It could be a slightly unpopular choice because he hasn't scored even 1,000 runs in List A cricket. He doesn't have those many wickets, seeing which you would say he has broken the door and come in," he added.

'He is a batter who bowls occasionally' - Aakash Chopra explains why Rinku Singh wasn't selected

Chopra said that Riyan Parag could have been considered, but wasn't, because he is on a comeback tour following a long injury layoff. On the other hand, the cricketer-turned-commentator noted that Rinku Singh could have been another option, but the fact that he doesn't bowl too often went against him.

"You might be wondering why Riyan Parag couldn't have come, or why Rinku Singh couldn't have been thought about. Riyan Parag has just started coming back after a very long injury layoff. Another middle-order batter was available in the form of Rinku Singh. Although he has started bowling a lot now, he is not basically a bowler. He is a batter who bowls occasionally," he said.