Arjun Tendulkar, son of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, is slowly making a name for himself in Indian domestic cricket. He was picked up by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2021 auction at his base price of ₹20 lakh. Despite his famous last name, Arjun is yet to make his IPL debut.
As the IPL 2024 auction approaches, will this be the season Arjun finally gets to showcase his skills on the big stage? Or does he still need more seasoning on the domestic circuit before he breaks into the MI playing XI?
Tracing Arjun Tendulkar’s Cricketing Journey
Before speculating on Arjun’s IPL 2024 chances, let’s briefly recap his cricketing journey so far:
Early Days
- Arjun Tendulkar began playing junior-level cricket in Mumbai from a young age.
- He initially started as a batsman before also bowling medium pace for his school teams.
Domestic Cricket
- Over the last 3-4 domestic seasons, Arjun has featured in Mumbai’s age group teams (U-16s, U-19s and U-23s) as a fast bowling all-rounder.
- He has also been part of Mumbai’s senior domestic side and has played a few T20 and List A matches.
IPL Contract
- In IPL 2021 auction, Mumbai Indians bought Arjun Tendulkar at his base price ₹20 lakhs.
- But he is yet to make his debut even after 2 seasons with MI.
Evaluating Arjun Tendulkar’s Strengths & Weaknesses
Arjun has shown glimpses of promise but lacks consistency at this stage of his career:
Strengths
- Decent fast bowling averages in mid-20s for his age group teams
- Can swing and seam the new ball to trouble batsmen
- More than useful lower middle-order batsman
Weaknesses
- Lacks pace with early-120s bowling speeds
- Too many extras – needs to improve control
- No spectacular domestic performances yet to attract attention
Potential X-Factor
- The one aspect that makes franchises take notice is Arjun’s last name. Being Sachin’s son alone earns him extra attention.
Will MI Retain Arjun Ahead of IPL 2024 Season?
Based on Arjun’s current skill level, he has slim chances of being retained by Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2024 auction:
MI’s Strong Bench Strength
- MI already have one of the strongest fast bowling contingents led by Jofra Archer, Jasprit Bumrah and Tymal Mills.
- Their all-rounder bench is also solid with the Pandya brothers and Tim David on roster.
- No obvious gaps where Arjun’s skills are desperately required.
Overseas Player Constraints
- MI also have 7-8 overseas stalwarts who are guaranteed starters when fit: De Kock, Pollard, Archer, Zampa, David, Allen, Brevis etc.
- This leaves no slot for an overseas pace bowling all-rounder like Arjun.
Lack of Standout Performances
- Most importantly, Arjun hasn’t dominated in age-group cricket or IPL nets to make himself undroppable.
Unlikely to be Retained
Considering these team dynamics, it is unlikely MI will retain Arjun Tendulkar as one of their 4 players ahead of the 2024 mega auction.
He will most probably go back to the 2024 auction pool.
Will Any Team Pick Arjun at 2024 IPL Auction?
If Arjun Tendulkar enters the 2024 IPL auction pool, will any team take another punt on him given his pedigree? There are some scenarios where he could attract bids:
MI Could Buy Him Back
- Mumbai Indians could use one of their auction picks or strategy to buy back Arjun Tendulkar in 2024 if he enters auction
- To give him more time prove himself as an all-round option
Lucknow Super Giants?
- The new franchise Lucknow Super Giants could bid for Arjun Tendulkar
- To gain the mindshare of cricket fans in their catchment area
Base Price Bid Only
- He could attract a ₹20 lakh base price bid from teams like SRH or Punjab Kings, who have fewer all-rounders
- But would only be a backup option if he stays at base price
Will Arjun Tendulkar Play IPL 2024 Matches?
While he could be picked by some franchise at the 2024 IPL auction again, Arjun actually playing IPL 2024 matches will depend heavily on these aspects:
Domestic/International Performances
- If Arjun has breakthrough domestic seasons over next 12 months with lots of wickets and runs under his belt
- Remote possibility – even selected for India-A side – his stocks would rise dramatically!
IPL Pre-Season Training & Trials
- How he fares in IPL pre-season and practice games will dictate if he makes first XI
- Needs to impress in training with bat and ball
Squad Fitness Availability
- Also contingent on which players are fit and available for a new franchise
- Injuries to main squad could open opportunities
So in summary – while an IPL bid in 2024 auction is likely due to his Tendulkar surname, Arjun actually breaking into first XI and playing IPL 2024 matches will rely on domestic performances pre-auction and his pre-season preparations.