Badoni was set to feature for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Vidarbha, but left the state camp to join the Indian team ahead of the second ODI. India are 1-0 up in the series after winning the first ODI and will take on the Kiwis in the second ODI on January 14 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
Following his maiden India call-up, a video of Badoni singing the song ‘Pehli Nazar Mein’ after a request from Rishabh Pant has gone viral on social media.
Meanwhile, Badoni’s sudden call also stirred a debate on social media about whether that was the right call made by the selectors. Users were quick to cite Badoni’s underwhelming numbers in List A cricket, where he has scored 693 runs in 22 innings and taken 22 wickets. He also had a poor run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, managing just 16 runs from three innings at an average of 8. However, he had a decent Indian Premier League (IPL), scoring 329 runs from 11 innings during the 2025/
India coach Gautam Gambhir worked closely with Badoni during his stint with LSG, and fans pointed out that Badoni might have been fast-tracked because of his relationship with Gambhir. Notably, the India coach was previously accused of favouritism when Harshit Rana was continuously backed by the team.
Will Badoni Make India Debut In 2nd ODI?
Badoni has a serious chance of making his India debut during the second ODI. While India have Nitish Reddy as a replacement all-rounder, they might want a batsman who can bowl a few overs of spin if required. In that case, Badoni fits the role perfectly.