In a surprising revelation, former India cricketer Yograj Singh has voiced strong criticism regarding the coaching approach towards Arjun Tendulkar, the son of legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar. Yograj asserts that Arjun possesses significant batting talent that is being largely overlooked, as mentors have concentrated predominantly on his bowling skills.
Yograj Singh's Blunt Assessment
Speaking candidly in a YouTube interview with Ravish Bisht, Yograj Singh expressed his bewilderment at the coaching strategy. "You are focusing only on his bowling. What are you doing? What has happened? There are so many coaches, what are they doing? He is basically a batter," Yograj questioned emphatically.
He recounted an incident from when Arjun trained under him for about 12-13 days. After Arjun was hit by a ball and declared fine by a doctor, Yograj instructed him to pad up for batting practice instead. It was during this session that a concerning truth emerged. "He told me that they don't focus on his batting," Yograj revealed, highlighting Arjun's own frustration.
The Net Session That Changed Perceptions
Yograj Singh described being taken aback by Arjun's prowess with the bat during the nets. "In the nets, he was hitting boundaries everywhere," he recalled. This display prompted him to immediately confront Arjun's coach about why the young all-rounder wasn't being given more opportunities to bat.
He went a step further, drawing a comparison that carries immense weight in cricketing circles. "I also told him that he is a batter of a great quality, he was batting as his father used to," Yograj stated, linking Arjun's technique and style to that of the iconic Sachin Tendulkar.
Arjun Tendulkar's Batting Record: A Mixed Bag
Despite the high praise from Yograj Singh, Arjun Tendulkar's official batting statistics in domestic cricket present a more modest picture so far:
- First-class cricket: Averages 21.37.
- List A matches: Averages 18.25.
- T20s: Averages 13.5.
However, glimpses of his potential are undeniable. He announced his arrival in the Ranji Trophy with a century on debut for Goa against Rajasthan in 2022, batting at number seven. He has also registered two half-centuries in red-ball cricket.
Recent Promotions and Performances
In a recent tactical shift, the Goa team management has shown increased faith in Arjun's batting abilities. He has been promoted to open the innings in both the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A).
In Goa's latest Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Mumbai, Arjun opened and scored 24 runs off 27 balls before being dismissed by Indian international Shardul Thakur. His T20 campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was less successful, yielding only 70 runs across five innings at an average of 14.
Yograj Singh's comments have ignited a fresh debate on whether Arjun Tendulkar, often pigeonholed as a bowling all-rounder, deserves a more dedicated focus on developing his batting to unlock the full spectrum of his talent, much of which, according to Yograj, remains untapped.
