Arjun Tendulkar, currently representing Goa in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, found himself back in the spotlight following an unusual batting promotion and a strong opinion from a former India cricketer’s camp. The left-arm pacer, more known for his bowling than his batting, opened the innings in Goa’s match against Mumbai, which seemed like an experiment rather than a defined role in the domestic season.
Arjun, who began his domestic career with Mumbai before switching to Goa, was asked to open the batting against his former team. He scored 24 off 27 deliveries, striking five boundaries during a brief but fluent stay at the crease, before being dismissed by Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur. The decision to promote him up the order stood out, given that Arjun is not a regular opener and has primarily been utilised as a bowling all-rounder.
Yograj Singh weighs in on Arjun’s batting potential
The conversation around Arjun’s batting gathered momentum after former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh, made a bold assertion about the 25-year-old’s abilities. Yograj, who has previously trained Arjun, claimed that the young all-rounder should focus more on batting and went as far as comparing his technique to that of his father, Sachin Tendulkar.
“Arjun Tendulkar should focus on batting; he’s a quality batter. He bats like Sachin,” Yograj was quoted as saying during an interaction with sports journalist Ravish Bisht. The remark quickly triggered reactions on social media, with many questioning the comparison given Arjun’s limited exposure and output as a top-order batter in competitive cricket.
IPL 2026 challenge awaits
Arjun is set to feature in the Indian Premier League in 2026 after being roped in by Lucknow Super Giants following a trade that saw Shardul Thakur move the other way. However, breaking into LSG’s playing XI could prove challenging. The franchise boasts depth in both its pace-bowling and all-rounder departments, which may restrict Arjun’s opportunities unless he delivers standout performances.
Poor outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26
As things stand, Arjun Tendulkar’s domestic season continues to be watched closely, not just for his numbers, but for how teams choose to use him in evolving roles. However, it hasn’t been very encouraging him for so far. In 3 innings, Arjun has scored 44 runs with the bat, averaging 22.00 at a strike rate of 81.48. With the ball too, he has leaked 185 runs in 23 overs across 3 innings but is yet to pick up his first wicket of the season.