IPL 2022 is just 7 matches old and we have already seen quite a few edge of the seat encounters. The match between Lucknow Supergiants and Chennai Super Kings was one such game which could have gone either way till the very end.

Set a target of 211 to win, LSG looked in a fix before Evin Lewis and Ayush Badoni put up a display of clean hitting at the Brabourne Stadium to hand the team their first-ever win in the IPL.

“I know my role and I was only told to play my natural game. They knew that if Evin and I click with our shots then we can win. So there was no specific message, we just had to play our shots and we executed it well,” Badoni said at the virtual post-match press conference.

“We didn’t want to take risks when Bravo was bowling, but we had to go for our shots in the last two overs, we had to go all out as we needed around 28 runs (34).”

Bravo has been around for a long time and, thus, is well experienced in bowling at the death. He bowled a fantastic 18th over, picking up the wicket of Deepak Hooda which took him past Lasith Malinga to become IPL's all-time leading wicket taker.

The ploy worked for LSG as they completed the chase with three balls to spare.

With spinners finding it difficult to grip the wet ball, Jadeja had no option but to turn to Shivam Dube to bowl the penultimate over of the match. LSG took full advantage garnering 25 runs from that over, turning the match on its head.

“I guess 210 was a good score and I think we chased it pretty well,” Badoni said.

Asked about the best learning from the IPL so far, he said: “It is to be yourself and not lose your individuality while around the big players… just be natural.”

Badoni seems to be one to look out for in the upcoming games, having delivered crucial performances in the first two matches.

(With PTI inputs)