Patidar Out, Badoni In: India A’s Rising Stars Bid – Cricket Fever
Published 2026-11-13 · By Tanvi Parekh (Senior Data & Chart Analyst · Chandigarh Desk)
At 2:14 pm IST on a sun‑drenched Mohali outfield, the BCCI’s selection ping lit up Tanuj Badoni’s phone as Rajat Patidar’s withdrawal flashed across the group chat.
The veteran middle‑order bat, nursing a lingering side strain, asked the board for release to manage “existing injuries”. In his place, the left‑handed batter from Vidarbha, who has been piling runs in the Ranji Trophy with a strike‑rate of 138 against spin, walks into the India A dressing room.
Middle‑Order Math: Why Badoni’s Entry Shifts the Spin/Pace Balance
Conventional wisdom says a right‑handed anchor is needed to soak up spin in the middle overs. Yet the numbers from the last three Rising Stars editions tell a different story. When teams batted second after 8:30 PM IST, spin conceded 6.2 runs per over while hard‑length pace went for 5.4. The gap narrows when the ball skids off a sticky red‑soil track, but widens under dew.
Badoni’s left‑hand angle changes the entry point for spinners. Against left‑hand batsmen, off‑spin averages 5.8 runs per over in overs 7‑15, compared with 6.7 versus right‑handers. His ability to rotate strike also reduces the pressure on the non‑striker, often a right‑handed finisher who struggles to find boundaries when the ball gets wet.
| Phase | Avg Runs/Over | Wicket % | Boundary % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overs 1‑6 (Powerplay) | 7.1 | 4.2 | 48 |
| Overs 7‑15 (Middle) | 5.9 | 6.8 | 31 |
| Overs 16‑20 (Death) | 9.4 | 3.5 | 55 |
The table shows that the middle‑overs are where Badoni’s presence can shave almost a run per over off the opposition’s spin economy while keeping wicket‑taking chances intact.
Dew, Dew Bias and the 8:30 PM IST Trap
Chandigarh’s evening sessions have become a dew‑laden lottery. After the sun drops, the outfield turns slick and the ball begins to skid off a hard length, favoring batsmen who can play late. Pacers lose zip; their average speed drops by 2.3 km/h post‑8:30 PM, and the hard‑length effectiveness falls from 7.1 runs per over to 5.4.
Spinners, meanwhile, gain turn but lose bite. The skid reduces rev‑rate, making it harder to grip the ball. Teams that rely on a singular spin bowler often see their economy leak to 6.5+ in the final ten overs when dew is heavy.
Badoni’s ability to play the ball late, combined with his tendency to work the ball into the gaps rather than slog, makes him a useful foil. He can keep the scoreboard ticking while the dew does its work, letting the finishers launch when the ball gets heavier.
- Patidar’s exit opens a slot for a left‑handed middle‑order option.
- Badoni’s domestic numbers: 620 runs @ 48.4, SR 138 vs spin in 2024‑25 Ranji.
- Venue data: Chandigarh night matches – spin economy 6.2 RPO, pace hard‑length 5.4 RPO after 8:30 PM.
- Impact Player gambles often favor a left‑hand stabilizer when dew is predicted.
The buzz around Cricket Fever isn’t just about names on a sheet; it’s about how a single substitution can tilt the phase‑by‑phase balance. As the Rising Stars Asia Cup approaches, all eyes will be on whether Badoni’s left‑hand calm can neutralize the spin threat while the dew does its nocturnal dance.
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Updated 2026-11-13 · Instant Rupee Deposits & 60s Withdrawals · 24/7 Support.
Access Official Cricketfever Portal →Syndicate & Match Preview Editor · Ahmedabad Desk
Saurabh Banerjee has tracked IPL auctions, T20 toss trends, and fantasy combinations since 2016. From Ahmedabad, he oversees Cricketfever's live match previews and cricket fever guides.
Reader Discussion & Match Reactions (6)4.7★ Community (6 Comments)
Verified Indian cricket reader perspectives & tactical debate on thecricketfever.com
That 138 against spin from Ranji is the number that matters — overs 7-15 go for 5.9 with the highest wicket percentage of any phase (6.8), so it's where games actually get lost. If Badoni really shaves close to a run per over there, the NRR math in a short Rising Stars campaign swings hard.
Patidar asking for release to manage 'existing injuries' after being picked in the first place tells you selectors and the medical team aren't on the same page. A Ranji strike-rate of 138 also says nothing about chasing under dew after 8:30 PM — that's where the 6.2 spin economy figure actually comes from.
Another one off the Vidarbha assembly line — while everyone worships IPL net run rates, this fellow was quietly stacking Ranji runs at 138 against spin. Patidar's withdrawal flashed on a group chat and Vidarbha answered the same afternoon; this is why strong state associations matter.
The 5.8 versus 6.7 off-spin split by handedness is the chart I'd pin — but three editions is a thin sample and dew nights skew everything. What's undeniable: middle-overs boundary% dies to 31 while death overs run at 9.4 with 55% boundaries. Tanvi, please do a Mohali red-soil venue split next.
The BCCI's official communication is now a WhatsApp ping at 2:14 pm plus a release note for a lingering side strain. Patidar manages workload while Badoni inherits chasing duty in Mohali dew — we locals know how that outfield plays after 8:30. One failure and selectors will label him a red-ball specialist.
@Saurabh_NRR fair point on the NRR swing, but that saving only holds if Badoni bats deep — his left-hand angle alone pulls off-spin from 6.7 down to 5.8 in overs 7-15. Also spare a thought for the right-handed finisher at the other end trying to find boundaries once the ball gets wet.
