Ayush Badoni, Delhi's captain and second-highest run-scorer in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2026, has the potential for far greater things but undercuts himself by not raising his own bar high enough — that is the frank assessment of Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya. The remarks came on Thursday, 5 November at the conclusion of Delhi's drawn game against Services at Palam, where Badoni managed only 7 and 17, even as his side collected three points via a first-innings lead.

Badoni's Ranji Trophy Form

The numbers, in isolation, make a compelling case for Badoni. Through four games in the first phase, he has accumulated 559 runs at a remarkable average of 111.8, including an unbeaten 210 against Gujarat and an innings of 217 against Jharkhand. Those back-to-back double hundreds on difficult tracks place him as the second-highest run-scorer of the phase. The Palam outing, however, reminded observers that consistency across all conditions remains a work in progress.

Dahiya's Candid Critique

'He's meant for bigger things, but he sells himself very cheap. He doesn't set the standard high enough for himself,' Dahiya told reporters after the match. The coach, who worked closely with Badoni at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL, identified a recurring pattern: Badoni tends to get drawn into individual battles with bowlers, which unsettles him when good deliveries arrive.

'Sometimes, he gets affected when somebody bowls a couple of good deliveries. He needs to understand that he has to give the bowler respect as well. The bowler is doing his job. If somebody challenges you and says, 'I'll keep you tight,' you have to respond. It's almost like a boxer. If somebody punches you once, you punch back twice,' Dahiya explained.

The Advice: Spend More Time at the Crease

Dahiya's prescription is straightforward — occupy the crease, weather the tough spells, and attack only once settled. 'I told him that he needs to spend time in the middle. You can only score runs when you're in the middle. That's where he needs to bite the bullet and say, 'For the next half an hour, maybe for a session, I'll stay there. Then I'll score',' the coach said. He also pointed to the high standards Badoni must hold himself to: 'When you're in an environment where your 100 becomes a daddy hundred, you need people to push you.'

The Bigger Picture: A Career at the Crossroads

Badoni had been a fixture in the India A set-up and had even captained the side. He was included in the senior squad for the ODI series against New Zealand in January as a replacement for the injured Washington Sundar. However, a poor IPL 2026 season with Lucknow Super Giants saw him dropped from India A assignments against Sri Lanka, Australia, and the ongoing tour of New Zealand. 'It should hurt when you've captained India A, and then you're not even being talked about,' Dahiya noted, adding that the double hundreds on challenging surfaces show Badoni is 'on the right path.'

What's Next for Badoni

With the first phase of the Ranji Trophy concluded, Badoni's immediate focus shifts to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which begins on 14 November. India A's next assignment features three white-ball games against Nepal in December, and selection for that series will likely hinge on how Badoni performs in the T20 tournament. The coming weeks represent a pivotal window for him to force his way back into national reckoning.