Badoni aims to protect his wicket in new Ranji Trophy campaign

Delhi captain Ayush Badoni wants to lose his wicket less often to risky strokes and turn more half-centuries into substantial scores. He outlined that aim to The Hindu on October 10 ahead of Delhi’s opener against Bengal in Kalyani.

The 26-year-old will combine middle-order batting responsibilities with leadership of a young side. Delhi has won the Ranji Trophy seven times but has not reached the knockout stage since 2017–18.

Badoni said he welcomed pressure both as a batter and as captain. He intends to keep his decision-making simple and rely on his judgment of the situation.

His average in the longer format is 54. Across 38 innings, he has made four centuries and 10 half-centuries. He now wants bowlers to earn his wicket rather than surrender it through an extravagant but poorly judged shot.

Delhi also needs to improve its ability to take 20 wickets consistently in a match. Against Bengal, it is looking to pace bowlers Navdeep Saini, Simarjeet Singh, Money Grewal and Divij Mehra.

The captain said injuries had prevented regular access to first-choice bowlers. Apart from Saini, he noted limited experience within that group, but expressed hope that its development would produce more wickets this season.