Ayush Badoni was drafted into the Indian squad for the remainder of the two ODIs of the three-match home series against New Zealand. This is the maiden India call-up for the Delhi batter, who is donning the hat of the team’s vice-captain in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025–26.
However, there is hardly any merit in him being chosen over other and better options that the Indian senior men’s team selectors had at their disposal. The fact that Badoni was backed by current India head coach Gautam Gambhir when he was at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) remains the only logical reasoning as to why a right-hander was chosen to replace a left-handed batter.
However, if we go into the details of the matter, one may also argue that both of them bowl off-spin. But the Indian squad already had two genuine spin bowlers in Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. A third spinner was nowhere required. And even if it were, they are far better bowlers than Badoni, far better batters than him, and even if we combine the two things, far better all-rounders.
Here are five people who would have been better replacements for Sundar than Badoni.
Vipraj Nigam
The Uttar Pradesh all-rounder has been in great form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with the ball. He has claimed 14 wickets in seven matches and is one of the main reasons for their qualification to the quarter-finals. The leg-break bowler could not get a chance to showcase his batting skills, but people are already aware of it from his heroics in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Vipraj smashed 149 runs at a strike rate of 179 for the Delhi Capitals and was more than handy enough with the bat whenever he got a chance.
Zeeshan Ansari
While Vipraj gives the all-round option, Zeeshan Ansari is a different ball game altogether. India have always been in search of a genuine leg-break bowler ever since Yuzvendra Chahal was sidelined. Ravi Bishnoi flickered and fizzled but couldn’t become permanent. Ansari, a product of homegrown leagues like the UPT20, became prominent after his time at the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025.
However, his stature has grown during the VHT 2025–26. After missing out on the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he played a lone game, Zeeshan has become the leading wicket-taker in the VHT. He has 21 wickets in seven games at an unbelievable average of 14.33.
He cannot bat like Sundar, but will be a much better bowling option if India are indeed trying to outspin the opposition.
Lalit Yadav
A genuine all-rounder, Lalit Yadav has seemed to hit the right chord after his switch from Delhi to Goa. The off-spin bowler and middle-order batter smashed three fifties and two centuries to add to his tally of a double century in the Ranji Trophy and two fifties in the SMAT 2025.
If Badoni has been picked purely as a batter and someone who could offer spin-bowling options, then Lalit makes a better case for inclusion than him. The 29-year-old former Delhi Capitals all-rounder has more than 120 domestic wickets to his name, with five of them coming in the VHT 2025–26 itself.
Rinku Singh
Another argument backing Badoni’s selection is his ability to be a big-game player and his experience of performing in tough situations during the IPL. In that case, Rinku Singh, who has been in and out of the Indian set-up, is a better choice.
He has more experience than Badoni, has played for the national team previously, and can bowl occasionally as well. Moreover, he will be a like-for-like replacement, being a left-hander who bowls off-spin.
Ramakrishna Ghosh
Another option that could fit better, given that India might have to bowl last, and it becomes increasingly difficult for the spinners to bowl with a wet ball, is a fast-bowling all-rounder. Ramakrishna Ghosh is someone who could have made the cut on that account, given that we don’t have Hardik Pandya or Shivam Dube in the squad.
Ghosh has been in great touch with both bat and ball, amassing 225 runs, including two fifties, and pocketing 17 wickets at an average of 15.82 and a strike rate of 18.58, the best among all bowlers in the Elite Group.
Why is Badoni not the right fit?
Badoni, after his double century in the Duleep Trophy (red-ball cricket), hasn’t really done anything noticeable. His outings in the Delhi Premier League (DPL), SMAT, and VHT have been barely noticeable.
The right-hander has scored 16 runs in three innings in the VHT and taken four wickets, with a three-wicket haul in a game against Railways. His stats in the SMAT (206 runs at an average of less than 30) and the Ranji Trophy (218 runs in five innings) aren’t that great either.