IPL 2022: Ayush Badoni has qualities of future star: Harbhajan Singh

Mumbai: Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Sunday said that Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul calls young Ayush Badoni 'Baby AB' for a reason.

In his short journey in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL), the 22-year-old Badoni has shown all the signs of a future star with his ability to play 360-degree shots even in crunch situations.

"Ayush Badoni is a very confident player and KL was spot on with his observation when he said that he is very calm and composed. Watching him play you do not get the feeling that this is his debut IPL season," Harbhajan said while speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live.

"He has this quality to absorb pressure which is a sign of a big player and a future star. Generally, youngsters get bogged down when they see a big player in front of them. But Badoni was never intimidated by the reputation of the player he was facing and continued to play his shots," he further said.

"He has hit fours and sixes against every big player he's faced. It shows how good his mind-set is. This also shows that these young cricketers have come with a lot of preparation. Badoni has shown a lot of maturity for a youngster, " he added.

Former India pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, who had played for Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians, claimed Badoni will emerge as a big player.

"Ayush has shown very good temperament in his first IPL. In his debut game when he came to bat, his team was under pressure and he slammed a fifty. In the second game, he helped his team chase down a big total under pressure. He has got all the qualities of becoming a big player one day." (UNI)