Kamal Ghorui
Arjun Tendulkar’s move from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow Super Giants might have been a straight forward swap deal in the IPL trade window ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction, but it sure did grab the attention of the fans despite the trade window witnessing some seismic shifts like the Sanju Samson trade to from RR to CSK. And with LSG set to open their campaign against Delhi Capitals today at the Ekana International Stadium, the buzz is whether the allrounder finds a place in the LSG playing XI. LSG, who finished a lowly 7th in IPL 2025, would be aiming for a winning start with a squad led by Rishabh Pant. And unlike the previous year, where LSG struggled with injuries, this time around they have a fully fit squad with key additions like Mohammad Shami and Anrich Nortje, while the return of Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan from injuries bolsters their pace bowling riches.
Will Arjun Tendulkar Play Today ?
And with that the question arises, will Arjun Tendulkar be able to find a place in the playing XI. Primarily a bowler, Tendulkar will face stiff competition from the likes of India international Avesh Khan, Mayank and Mohsin for a spot in the final XI with Shami expected to spearhead the attack. There are also a host of young fast bowlers in Prince Yadav, Akash Singh, Naman Tiwari and fast bowling allrounder Arshin Kulkarni who are vying for a place as well. Although the Mumbai Indians signed Tendulkar in IPL 2021, an injury ruled him out of the season before he was rebought by the franchise ahead of the 2022 season. And after being on the bench for the 2022 season, he eventually made his IPL debut in 2023 against Kolkata Knight Riders and went on to feature in five matches for MI, taking three wickets. Always in the shadows of his legendary father, Tendulkar’s every performance is scrutinised and linked, often tad unfairly, with Sachin, but Arjun has earned his stripes in domestic cricket over the years, taking 27 wickets in 24 T20s at a strike rate of 17.1 and an average of 25.07. He has also scored 119 runs at a strike rate of 123.95 in the format. After representing Mumbai early on, Arjun shifted his allegiance to Goa and boasts a List A wicket tally of 25 and 47 in first-class cricket, to go with two fifties and a hundred in FC. Earlier, ahead of LSG’s season opener, Tendulkar in a podcast revealed how he copes with the criticism directed at him. In an interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Arjun was asked: “How do you keep yourself so calm and cool?” Arjun replied: “I have 5 dogs in Goa & I spend time playing with them”. Shubhankar asked: “Do you have friends who are cricketers?” Arjun said: “I don’t really have cricketer friends, most of my friends don’t play cricket”. Shubhankar asked: “Are you scared for criticism?”. Arjun: said: No. I don’t.”
