Team India has addressed the debate surrounding Ayush Badoni’s surprise inclusion in the ODI squad for the New Zealand series following Washington Sundar’s injury. Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak clarified that Badoni’s selection was driven by balance requirements rather than experimentation.

Washington Sundar was ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against New Zealand due to injury, prompting the selectors to bring in the Delhi all-rounder. While the move sparked discussion, with some observers backing Riyan Parag or Rinku Singh, the team management has defended its decision.

Team management highlights need for all-round option

Speaking ahead of the second ODI, Kotak said the team could not afford to go into a match with only five bowling options, especially in the absence of Sundar.

He explained that Badoni offers flexibility, noting that if a frontline bowler were to get injured mid-match, the team would still need someone capable of bowling four to five overs. Kotak added that while Sundar is a more established all-rounder, teams often opt for players who can contribute with both bat and ball, even if bowling is a secondary skill.

Kotak also pointed to Badoni’s consistent performances in India A matches and white-ball cricket, stating that his ability to bat in the middle order and bowl right-arm off-breaks made him a like-for-like replacement in terms of team balance.

Strong domestic and India A performances

Badoni has impressed in List A cricket, scoring 693 runs in 27 matches at an average of 36.47 and a strike rate above 93. His record includes one century and five half-centuries. With the ball, he has taken 18 wickets at an economy rate of 4.54.

During the South Africa A tour of India last year, Badoni scored 66 in an unofficial ODI and delivered economical bowling spells across two matches. He also contributed during Australia A’s tour, picking up three wickets in two games while adding runs in limited opportunities.

IPL experience adds to credentials

The 24-year-old has featured in 56 IPL matches for Lucknow Super Giants, scoring 963 runs at a strike rate of 138.56. Known for his composure in the middle order, Badoni has registered six IPL half-centuries, strengthening his case as a reliable white-ball option.

Kotak wished Badoni well, expressing confidence that the youngster’s exposure at domestic, India A, and IPL levels has prepared him for the international stage.

With less than a month to go before the start of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, uncertainty continues over Bangladesh’s group-stage matches scheduled to be played in India. Bangladesh are slated to play four matches in the group stage — three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai — but the Bangladesh Cricket Board has expressed reservations about touring India, citing security concerns.

The issue gained traction following the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from his IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, on the instructions of the BCCI for undisclosed reasons. Subsequently, the Bangladesh Cricket Board approached the International Cricket Council, seeking a shift of its matches to Sri Lanka, one of the tournament’s hosts.

Amid the developments, reports have suggested that Pakistan has offered to host Bangladesh’s matches if they are moved out of India.

Bangladesh government reacts to venue row

Responding to questions on the possibility of shifting matches to another Indian city, Bangladesh government’s Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul made it clear that the concern is with playing in India, not with specific venues.

“We are talking about India, we are not talking about Kolkata. If the venue is changed from India to Sri Lanka, there is no issue,” Nazrul said on Wednesday. He added that he had seen reports claiming Pakistan had offered to host the matches, though he could not verify their authenticity.

“No problem if Pakistan or UAE host our matches,” Nazrul said, signalling openness to alternative venues outside India.

Claims over ICC security assessment

Nazrul also claimed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board had received a communication from the ICC’s security team, outlining scenarios under which the security threat to the Bangladesh team could increase. According to him, the letter mentioned the inclusion of Mustafizur Rahman in the squad, Bangladeshi supporters wearing national jerseys, and the upcoming national elections as potential risk factors.

Based on this, Nazrul asserted that Bangladesh was not in a position to play its World Cup matches in India.

ICC rejects Bangladesh advisor’s claims

The ICC, however, rejected the interpretation presented by the Bangladesh government official. An ICC source clarified that independent security assessments carried out by internationally recognised experts do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled matches in India.

According to the ICC, the overall security risk for the tournament in India has been assessed as low to moderate, consistent with other major global sporting events. The assessment did not identify any specific or direct threat to the Bangladesh team, officials, or match venues in Kolkata and Mumbai, and found no risks that could not be managed through standard security measures.

For now, the fate of Bangladesh’s group-stage matches remains unresolved, with the ICC yet to announce any changes to the existing schedule.

India registered a hard-fought four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI in Vadodara on Sunday, with KL Rahul holding his nerve in the final overs after Virat Kohli narrowly missed out on a landmark century.

Chasing a target of 301, India appeared firmly in control for most of the innings, led by Kohli’s composed 93 off 91 balls. The former India captain struck eight fours and a six, anchoring the chase before falling seven runs short of what would have been his 85th international hundred.

Kohli’s dismissal triggered a brief collapse, allowing New Zealand back into the contest. However, Rahul remained calm under pressure, scoring an unbeaten 29 off 21 balls. His decisive penultimate over, featuring two boundaries and a six, ensured India crossed the line with six balls to spare.

Earlier, Shubman Gill contributed 56 while Shreyas Iyer looked set for a half-century before being bowled for 49. Harshit Rana also played a crucial cameo, adding 29 off 23 balls at a tense stage of the chase.

Despite disciplined spells from the New Zealand bowlers, India reached 306 for 6 in 49 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

New Zealand innings

Batting first, New Zealand posted a competitive 300 for 8. Daryl Mitchell led the charge with a counter-attacking 84 off 71 balls after early pressure from India’s pace attack. Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway also chipped in with half-centuries to provide stability to the innings.

India’s bowlers managed to pull things back at the death, preventing the visitors from pushing beyond the 300-run mark.

Key milestone and award

During his innings, Kohli became the fastest player to reach 28,000 international runs, achieving the milestone in his 624th innings, surpassing the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar.

Despite missing out on a century, Kohli was named Player of the Match for his decisive contribution in the chase.

The second ODI of the series will be played on January 14.