Badoni received his maiden ODI call-up after playing 27 List A matches.
Sundar experienced extreme discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling in the series opener in Vadodara, prompting the team management to reconsider ahead of the second ODI.
Commenting on the selection committee’s decision, former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra said this could be an “unpopular choice" but noted that Badoni has been “economical" with his spin bowling for Delhi.
Badoni failed to make a mark with the bat for Delhi in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring just 15 runs in three innings. However, he has delivered effective bowling spells, returning with the figures of 3/30 in 10 overs against Railways, 1/28 in 7 overs against Services, and 0/21 in 5 overs against Gujarat.
“Washington Sundar is not there. So Ayush Badoni has come in his place. I think the Indian selection committee was looking for a like-for-like replacement, and that is not available. Ayush Badoni bowled a lot and batted for India A. He is also bowling for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and is economical," Chopra was quoted as saying on his YouTube Channel.
“So the selection committee went for Ayush Badoni. It could be a slightly unpopular choice because he hasn’t scored even 1,000 runs in List A cricket. He does not have those many wickets, seeing which you would say he has broken the door and come in," he added.
According to Chopra, all-rounder Riyan Parag was not considered due to his return from an extended injury hiatus while Rinku Singh missed out because he is specialist batter who bowls occasionally.
“You might be wondering why Riyan Parag couldn’t have come, or why Rinku Singh couldn’t have been thought about. Riyan Parag has just started coming back after a very long injury layoff. Another middle-order batter was available in the form of Rinku Singh. Although he has started bowling a lot now, he is not basically a bowler. He is a batter who bowls occasionally,” Chopra remarked.