Lauded by Virat Kohli, Ayush Badoni looks set for a real big innings- Exclusive

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After seeing Delhi captain Ayush Badoni bat in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy match against the Railways, Virat Kohli asked him to continue his good work so that he gets picked for the Indian team.

"That's a massive endorsement from Virat Kohli! For Ayush Badoni, hearing such words from one of India's greatest batters must have been incredibly motivating," Devender Sharma, the Sonnet team's coach from where Badoni played most of his cricket, told MyKhel.

Kohli knows what it takes to break into the national team, so his advice carries serious weight. Badoni has already shown glimpses of his talent in domestic cricket and the IPL, and if he keeps performing consistently, an India call-up might not be too far away. "Badoni has also been the highest scorer for Delhi and looking in great touch this season. He is batting really well and knows what it takes it takes to score consistently," Devender Sharma said.

That's quite a turnaround for Badoni. From not being the first-choice captain to leading Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, he's grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Leadership in red-ball cricket is a different challenge, and it seems like he's handling it well. Captaining two Indian Test players - Rishabh Pant and Kohli - is a huge honour and responsibility.

It's rare for a young domestic captain to have such experienced international stars under his leadership. But it also speaks volumes about Delhi's faith in him and his temperament as a leader. "Hopefully, this is starting of all good things for Badoni," Devender added.