The Goa cricket team's bold strategy to promote young all-rounder Arjun Tendulkar as an opening batsman has not produced the desired results in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. The son of legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Arjun was given the crucial top-order role for three consecutive matches but failed to make a significant impact with the bat.
A Failed Experiment at the Top
In his latest outing against Punjab, Arjun Tendulkar's struggle continued as he managed to score only one run from eight deliveries before being dismissed by bowler Sukhdeep Bajwa. This disappointing performance adds to a series of low scores in the tournament. Earlier, he had opened the innings against Mumbai and scored 24 runs. This was followed by scores of 8 against Uttarakhand and 19 against Sikkim.
His recent match log paints a clear picture of his batting form:
- Goa vs Uttarakhand: 8 runs (Bowling: 0/54)
- Goa vs Mumbai: 24 runs (Bowling: 0/78)
- Goa vs Sikkim: 19 runs (Bowling: 0/49)
- Goa vs Himachal: 1* run (Bowling: 0/58)
Yograj Singh's Blunt Assessment
The experiment has drawn sharp criticism from Yograj Singh, father of former India star Yuvraj Singh. In a recent interview on Ravishh Bisht's YouTube channel, Yograj claimed that Arjun is fundamentally a batter who is being incorrectly coached as a bowler.
The 67-year-old revealed details of a conversation with Arjun, alleging that the all-rounder was not given enough batting opportunities before attending a camp at his academy. "They are focusing on his bowling; I don't know what is wrong with the coaches. Basically, he is a batter," Yograj stated emphatically.
He narrated an incident where Arjun was hit by a ball during the camp and taken to the hospital. Upon returning, Yograj asked him to pad up, but Arjun reportedly said, "they don't give him the chance to bat."
A Week of Batting and a Debut Century
Yograj Singh's intervention, according to his account, had an immediate effect. He said that after watching Arjun dominate in the indoor nets, he insisted on focusing on his batting. "He was on fire, hitting balls all across the park," Yograj recalled.
The result was dramatic: after batting at Yograj's academy for about a week, Arjun Tendulkar went on to score a century on his Ranji Trophy debut. This anecdote is used by Yograj to underscore his point about Arjun's true potential lying with the willow.
Yograj also disclosed that he had previously tried to advocate for Arjun's batting talents at the highest level of franchise cricket. He claimed to have requested the Mumbai Indians management in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to allow Arjun to open the innings in a few matches, but his suggestion was turned down.
The ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy has thus become a focal point for the debate surrounding Arjun Tendulkar's career trajectory. While the Goa team's tactical move has yet to pay off, the strong opinions from a seasoned observer like Yograj Singh add a significant layer to the discussion about how the young all-rounder's skills are being nurtured and utilized.
