In a surprising turn of events, Ayush Badoni has received his maiden call-up to the Indian ODI squad, replacing the injured Washington Sundar for the remainder of the series against New Zealand. The uncapped Badoni's inclusion comes after Sundar sustained a rib injury during the first ODI in Vadodara.

Sundar, 26, experienced discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling and had to leave the field during the New Zealand innings. Despite the injury, he returned to bat at No. 8, contributing to India's four-wicket victory. The BCCI confirmed that Sundar would undergo further scans and seek expert opinion, ruling him out of the remaining two ODIs.

Ayush Badoni, a 26-year-old primarily known as a batter who can bowl off-spin, will now join the Indian squad in Rajkot for the second ODI. This call-up marks a significant moment in Badoni's career, providing him with his first opportunity to represent India at the international level.

Badoni's inclusion means he will miss Delhi's quarterfinal match against Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has previously captained Delhi and served as vice-captain to Rishabh Pant in the same tournament.

Badoni has made a name for himself through his performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he played under the guidance of current India head coach Gautam Gambhir. In the IPL, Badoni has played 54 matches, scoring 963 runs with a highest score of 74. He has also hit 73 fours and 38 sixes in his IPL career.

While Badoni boasts a first-class batting average of 57.96, his List A numbers are less impressive, averaging 36.47 in 27 matches. However, he has been developing his bowling skills and has taken 4 wickets in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. In his List A career, Badoni has one century and five half-centuries.

Badoni's recent form in the IPL 2025 season saw him score 329 runs in 14 matches with a highest score of 74 and a strike rate of 148.20. Overall, in his IPL career, Badoni has a strike rate of 138.56.

This unexpected call-up presents a golden opportunity for Ayush Badoni to showcase his talent on the international stage. It remains to be seen how he will perform if given the chance to play in the remaining ODIs against New Zealand.