Ranji Trophy Drama: Ayush Badoni Benched to Teach Lesson to 'IPL Star' Ahead of Delhi vs Uttarakhand Clash

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New Delhi, Jan 26: Delhi's Ranji Trophy campaign took a hit on Friday (January 26) when star batsman Ayush Badoni, currently in a rough patch, was sidelined on the insistence of influential officials, aiming to impart a lesson to the "IPL star."

Despite excluding Badoni from the 15-member squad, Delhi's batting woes persisted as they were bowled out for 147 by Uttarakhand's medium-pace bowlers in a Ranji Trophy group D match in Mohali. This season, Delhi's batsmen have struggled, failing to surpass 200 runs on three occasions, with Vaibhaav Kandpal's 49 being the highest individual score in the last game.

While Yash Dhull managed 47 runs on the day, Uttarakhand ended the day at 98 for four, with Navdeep Saini claiming three wickets. Badoni, who scored 41 in the previous game and is one of Delhi's highly-rated players, had to make way for Kshitiz Sharma, allegedly favoured by a former BCCI office bearer.

A senior DDCA official, speaking anonymously, revealed the pressure to accommodate Kshitiz and keep Badoni out to deny him BCCI's match fees. "Only 15 players are entitled to BCCI match fees. Since he can't be allowed in PMOA, it was thought to be better to keep him in the hotel," the official stated.

Regarding Badoni's absence from the ground, the official explained logistical issues and concerns over his focus post-IPL seasons, suggesting the decision was to teach him a lesson.

Criticism was directed at Badoni for his failure to score runs. Kshitiz, considered a decent club-level cricketer, was dismissed cheaply, prompting potential intervention from DDCA president Rohan Jaitley if the situation doesn't improve.

Skipper Himmat Singh's dismissal was described as disappointing, indicative of technical flaws among players, including Dhull, who has been struggling with his stance and setup.

Brief Scores: Delhi 147 in 49.2 overs (Yash Dhull 47, Abhay Negi 3/34, Devendra Bora 3/40). Uttarakhand 98/4 (Avneesh Sudha 55*, Navdeep Saini 3/39).