‘Arjun is a student who always wants to do well’

The selection of Arjun Tendulkar in the India U-19 side has evoked extreme reactions on social media. While Sachin Tendulkar’s fans were elated that they will get an opportunity to see the next generation Tendulkar, internet trolls swamped social media with accusations of nepotism. It is clear that the 18-year-old will be taking a big stride in his career under immense pressure, something that his legendary father handled with ease all his life. The 6-feet tall Tendulkar will have to deal with the same pressure right from the beginning. And many who know him are confident that Arjun will follow his father's footsteps.

Arjun and  Yashasvi Jaiswal were the only two Mumbai Cricket Association junior cricketers who earned a maiden call up to the India U-19 side announced on Thursday. Arjun has been included for two four-day games and Yashasvi for five one-dayers for the tour of Sri Lanka from July 11 to August 11.

Arjun was the top wicket taker for Mumbai in the Cooch Behar Trophy. He took 18 wickets from five matches and bagged fivers against Madhya Pradesh and Railways, besides a four-wicket haul against Assam.  

Mumbai Under-16 chairman of selectors, Atul Ranade says,  “Arjun did well in four-day games (in Cooch Behar Trophy). He is a very, very keen cricketer and a good listener. He is a student who always wants to do well.”

Arjun with 18 wickets was 43rd on list of top wicket takers in Cooch Behar Trophy headed by Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association’s Ayush Jamwal with 50 wickets. However, Ayush was not selected and that has led to accusations of nepotism.

However, many top wicket takers like Jamwal were not selected as full time coach Rahul Dravid has emphasised on not including players who have completed the age of 19 before the tournament and those who have played in a junior World Cup already as he wants them to slug out in first class cricket.

Considering most wickets aren’t conducive to pacers in India, Arjun did a good job as a genuine quick bowler. All the top wicket takers above him are either spinners or medium pacers.

The other Mumbaikar, the 16-year-old Jaiswal scored 491 runs in four Cooch Behar matches with a double ton (218) against Railways with an overall average of 98.20.

“I am happy and it is good to hear two Mumbai boys have been selected to represent the India U-19 team. We would have wished for more representation from Mumbai but you have to understand it is an all India team and players are picked on the basis of performances. Arjun and Yashasvi have shown good performances for Mumbai,” Ranade says.

Not in U-19 World Cup plans?

The 18-year-old Arjun however has been overlooked for the one-day side as he may be ineligible to play in the 2020 U-19 World Cup in South Africa as he would be overage by then.

Arjun is a regular at Mumbai Indians nets and Indian team nets at Wankhede Stadium, bowling to the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He was used in the nets as preparation for the New Zealand game here last year to counter left-arm pacer Trent Boult’s threat. “It is always good to bowl to International cricketers. You are learning always with as many deliveries you bowl to them,” Ranade felt.

He skipped the inaugural T20 Mumbai League to train under former India fast bowler Subroto Banerjee and work on his remodelled action."He was in a camp and whatever I spoke to him he was happy with his progress," he added.

The complete squads are as below:

India U-19 squad for 2 four-day games: Anuj Rawat (C) (WK) (DDCA), Atharva Taide (VCA), Devdutt Padikkal (KSCA), Aryan Juyal (VC) (WK) (UPCA), Yash Rathod (VCA), Ayush Badoni (DDCA), Sameer Choudhary (UPCA), Siddharth Desai (GCA), Harsh Tyagi (DDCA), Y.D. Mangwani (MHCA), Arjun Tendulkar (MCA), Nehal Wadhera (PCA), Akash Pande (GCA), Mohit Jangra (UPCA), Pawan Shah (MHCA).  

India U-19 squad for one-days: Aryan Juyal (C) (WK) (UPCA), Anuj Rawat (WK) (DDCA), Devdutt Padikkal (KSCA), Atharva Taide (VCA), Yash Rathod (VCA), Ayush Badoni (DDCA), Sameer Choudhary (UPCA), Siddharth Desai (GCA), Harsh Tyagi (DDCA), Y.D. Mangwani (MHCA), Ajay Devgaud (HYD), Y. Jaiswal (MCA), Mohit Jangra (UPCA), Akash Pande (GCA), Pawan Shah (MHCA).