Ayush Badoni, the captain of Delhi’s cricket team, continued his impressive form in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. On Monday, playing against Jharkhand in Ranchi, Badoni scored a vital century on the first day of the match. This was his second major score in succession after a double century against Gujarat. He remained unbeaten on 106 runs off 122 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and two sixes. Thanks to his innings, Delhi ended the day’s play at 309 for five wickets.
Badoni Anchors Delhi’s Innings
The top order for Delhi started well but failed to convert their starts into big scores. Priyansh Arya, who scored 199 in the previous match against Gujarat, was dismissed after 39 runs. Opening partner Sanat Sangwan contributed 37 runs, while Yash Dhull added 29 from the number three position. Ayush Doseja scored a quick 21 runs off 29 balls. When Badoni came in at number five, he steadied the innings and accelerated the scoring pace. He shared an unbeaten 128-run partnership with Sumit Mathur. Mathur was on 50 at stumps, helping Delhi recover strongly from five down for 181 runs.
Consistent High Performer
This century came right after Badoni’s double hundred against Gujarat, where he batted impressively to help Delhi build a solid lead in the first innings. In that match, he also combined with Priyansh Arya for a 234-run partnership. Earlier in the season against Bengal, Badoni showed his all-round skills by taking five wickets for 43 runs and then scoring 85 runs in Delhi’s second innings.
At 26 years old, Badoni has shown remarkable ability in the first-class format. In November 2024, he scored an unbeaten 205 against Jharkhand, followed by a 204 not out for East Zone in the 2025 Duleep Trophy. His recent double century against Gujarat was his third in first-class cricket. Leading into this third-round match, his first-class average stood at an impressive 58.31, having accumulated 2,216 runs across 26 matches.
Badoni’s rise in domestic cricket led to a call-up to the senior Indian team for the first time in January 2026. He has been a consistent member of the India A squad but remains focused on his immediate performances rather than looking too far ahead. The selectors’ attention is expected to turn towards him as he continues to deliver strong performances.
Hailing from Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand, Badoni has loved cricket since childhood, considering it the country’s religion. He completed his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya and earned a degree in Hindi journalism from Delhi University in 2006. He then pursued a career in sports media, starting with Network 18 Group at IBN7 news channel, where he worked for five years.
He further expanded his career at national channels like India TV and News Nation. In 2016, Badoni ventured into digital media with Zee Network, spending a year with Cricket Country before returning to Network 18. For four years, he covered sports news on the News18 Hindi website. Currently, he is associated with TV9, delivering sports news with a fresh perspective.
Ayush Badoni’s journey from a passionate cricket lover in Rudraprayag to a prominent player and respected sports journalist highlights his dedication to the game. His performance in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season reinforces his status as a key player to watch in Indian cricket’s domestic circuit.
