NEW DELHI: There’s tension in the Delhi camp. They have mustered just four points in three Ranji Trophy matches. On Monday, an evidently turning track awaits them in their match against Services at the Palam Air Force ground. And their captain Ayush Badoni, with 535 runs in four innings this season, is battling a bout of cold and mild fever.This is the last match of this leg of Ranji Trophy before the red-ball domestic season breaks for the white-ball tournaments over the next two months. Badoni has already emerged as the most dominant batter this season with two double centuries at a strike rate of 90. As he plots his way back into the Indian team’s scheme of things, he is also the man carrying the expectations of turning Delhi’s red-ball fortunes around.No 26, Badoni’s talent from his India U-19 days was never disputed in cricketing circles. He has done enough to stay relevant as an India ‘A’ player for two years besides showing glimpses of his talent in the IPL. However, the breakout season has come now. Knowing this could be the defining season for his career, Badoni chose to go into solitude and primarily work on his temperament in red-ball cricket after this year’s IPL.“I play white-ball cricket round the year. I understood I had to work on my temperament to bat long in red-ball cricket. So, I only practiced with the red-ball during the off season after the IPL. Even during the Delhi Premier League, I practiced with the red ball,” Badoni told TOI on Sunday.To work on his temperament, he took regular meditation sessions. “I had to find a way to concentrate for a longer period. I had to control my mind. So, I took meditation sessions. My aim is to play for India. I want to play Test cricket and be ready if the selectors need me for the home series. That’s why put in extra work on my off-spin,” he said.“Badoni now knows how to not let his ego get the better of him if the bowlers string a few good overs against. He has learnt that restraint. In the last match in Ranchi, the Jharkhand team were blown away with his innings. They thought 300 was a good score batting first but Badoni got us past 500,” Delhi head coach Vijay Dahiya told TOI.Badoni puts in as much work on his bowling as well. He was one of Delhi’s highest wicket-takers last season. Delhi head coach Vijay Dahiya would know he is such a critical man for Delhi given the fact that teams are expected to play on result-oriented pitches to ensure their qualification chances.
