Ayush Badoni: Cricketer

Ayush Badoni is an Indian cricketer whose journey began in the hills of Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, before a family move to Delhi set him on the path to professional cricket. Known for his calm temperament and knack for delivering under pressure, he has grown from a promising India U-19 player into one of the most reliable finishers in the Lucknow Super Giants' batting order.

Ayush Badoni was born on 3 December 1999 in Kwili village, in the Devprayag block of Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand. His family later relocated to New Delhi, largely because his father, Vivek Badoni, a documentary filmmaker, felt the capital offered far greater professional opportunities in his field – a move that also gave young Ayush access to Delhi's competitive cricketing ecosystem. His mother, Vibha Badoni, works as a teacher, and he has a younger brother, Pratyush Badoni.

Badoni completed his schooling at Modern School, Barakhamba Road, in Delhi, and pursued his graduation at Sri Venkateswara College, New Delhi, balancing his studies with an increasingly demanding cricket schedule. He received his early cricket training under coaches Balraj Kumar and the widely respected Tarak Sinha at Delhi's Sonnet Cricket Club, before later working with coach Devendra Sharma as well.

As of 2026, Ayush Badoni is 26 years old, having been born on 3 December 1999. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius.

Badoni first drew national attention while representing India's U-19 team. In the final of the 2018 U-19 Asia Cup against Sri Lanka, he played a match defining knock of 52 runs off just 28 balls, including four consecutive sixes in one over, propelling India to a commanding 144-run victory and the title.

His domestic age group form was equally impressive – during the 2019-20 Under-23 One Day tournament, he finished as Delhi's highest run scorer with 389 runs at an average of 55.57, while also chipping in with 8 wickets at an economy of under five, underlining his all round potential even at that early stage.

Badoni made his T20 debut for Delhi on 11 January 2021, in the 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, followed by his List A debut in the 2021-22 Vijay Hazare Trophy. His first class debut came on 3 January 2023, when he opened the innings for Delhi against Saurashtra in Rajkot, and he made an immediate impact with a brilliant 191 against Hyderabad just a few matches into his red-ball career.

Badoni's rise culminated in November 2024, when, playing as Delhi's Ranji Trophy captain, he scored his maiden first class double century (205*), guiding his team to victory – a significant milestone that underlined his growth into a genuine leadership figure in Delhi cricket, having captained the side across formats including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Despite limited opportunities for Delhi at the time, Badoni's potential caught the eye of the newly formed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who signed him at his base price of ₹20 lakh in the IPL 2022 mega auction. Backed strongly by then LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir, who slotted him in at number six, Badoni repaid the faith in style.

• 28 March 2022 (IPL Debut): Scored 54 runs off 41 balls against Gujarat Titans, becoming the first player in IPL history to score a half-century on debut while batting at No. 6 or lower.
• vs Chennai Super Kings: Played a mature, match-winning cameo of 19 off 9 balls with LSG needing 40 runs from 16 balls.
• Debut Season Total: Finished IPL 2022 with 161 runs from 13 matches.

Badoni continued with Lucknow Super Giants through IPL 2023, and was shuffled across different positions in the batting order that season. By IPL 2024, he found a more settled role at No. 6 and No. 7, contributing two half-centuries across the campaign.

Ahead of the 2025 mega auction, LSG placed strong faith in him, retaining him for a significant ₹4 crore – a major jump from his original base price. He rewarded that trust with 329 runs at a strike rate of 148.20 in the 2025 season, and was retained again by LSG at the same price for the 2026 season.

Across his IPL career, Badoni has played 64 matches, scoring 1,135 runs at an average of 25.80, including 7 half centuries and a highest score of 74, along with 91 fours and 44 sixes. As an occasional off spin bowler, he has picked up 4 wickets at an economy of 9.22, with best figures of 4/2.

On 31 August 2024, playing for South Delhi Superstarz against North Delhi Strikers in the Delhi Premier League (DPL), Badoni produced one of the most explosive T20 innings ever recorded in India, smashing 165 runs off just 55 balls, including 19 sixes and 8 fours – a stunning display of clean hitting that underlined his rapidly growing power-hitting game beyond his usual finisher's role.

Ayush Badoni comes from a Hindu family and remains close to his parents, Vivek and Vibha Badoni, and his younger brother, Pratyush, who regularly supports him at matches. He keeps his personal relationships private and has not publicly confirmed any relationship status. Outside cricket, he has spoken about enjoying swimming as a way to unwind from the pressures of professional sport.

Ayush Badoni's rise from a Garhwal hill village to a core middle-order player for an IPL franchise reflects both talent and adaptability.

• Set an IPL record for the first player to score a half-century on debut while batting at No. 6 or lower
• A U-19 World title-winning contributor for India in the 2018 Asia Cup final
• Delhi's Ranji Trophy captain, having scored his maiden first-class double century leading the side
• One of the Uttarakhand-born cricketers now making a mark on the national stage, alongside contemporaries like Rishabh Pant

Uttarakhand's growing cricket identity has also been strengthened by players like Akash Madhwal, who have made their mark in the IPL with impressive performances.

From a debut half-century that broke IPL records to captaining Delhi to a double-century win, Ayush Badoni's journey continues to build steadily toward the top tiers of Indian cricket.