By Krishna Dua 
Arjun Tendulkar Pushes for Bigger Role Ahead of 2026 Season
MUMBAI — As the IPL 2026 mega auction dust settles and franchises fine-tune their rosters for the upcoming season, Arjun Tendulkar, the 26-year-old all-rounder and son of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, has emerged as a vocal advocate for a more prominent role, signaling his readiness to step out of the shadows and claim the spotlight he believes his maturing skills merit. Traded to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) from the Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the December 1 auction in Jeddah for his base price of INR 30 lakh, Arjun used a post-auction interview with this desk to assert his case, declaring, “I’ve paid my dues on the bench and in the domestics—2026 is my time to contribute more than cameos; LSG’s platform will let me unleash my all-round game.” His words, laced with the quiet confidence of a player who has toiled through 50 First-Class matches and 30 List A outings, come at a pivotal juncture, with the 2025 domestic season’s strong finish—including a career-best 4/10 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT)—positioning him as a dark horse for LSG’s middle-order and death-over duties.
Arjun’s push for prominence is no petulant plea but a calculated claim backed by a season of substance: in Goa’s SMAT Elite Group B campaign, he snared 28 wickets at an economy of 7.85 across 24 matches, his 4/10 vs Chandigarh a tournament highlight that dismantled the middle order with left-arm seam swinging at 135 kph. Batting contributions, while modest at 119 runs (average 13.22, strike rate 140), included a brisk 28 off 22 vs Uttar Pradesh, showcasing his ability to accelerate when the chase demands it. “Arjun’s arc is undeniable—his bowling bite has sharpened, and his bat’s beginning to bark; he’s no longer the ‘legacy lad’; he’s a legitimate luxury,” Gautam Gambhir, LSG mentor, affirmed in a pre-season huddle, a ringing endorsement from the man who captained Sachin in his final IPL outing. With LSG retaining only three players—KL Rahul (INR 18 crore), Nicholas Pooran (INR 21 crore), and Ravi Bishnoi (INR 11 crore)—ahead of the auction, Arjun’s acquisition at base price was a shrewd steal, freeing up INR 14.5 crore for overseas firepower while slotting him as a domestic all-round utility.
The 2025 season, Arjun’s most prolific since his 2021 IPL debut, has been a narrative of nuanced growth: 17 First-Class matches yielding 532 runs (average 23.13, highest 120) and 37 wickets (average 33.51, best 5/25), 15 List A games with 62 runs and 21 scalps (average 30.80, best 4/30), and the SMAT sparkler of 119 runs and 27 wickets (average 25.07, economy 7.85). Goa’s quarterfinal run, where Arjun’s 3/17 vs Chandigarh (including the wickets of Arjun Azad, Shivam Bhambri, and Jagjit Singh) sealed a 52-run victory at Eden Gardens, silenced skeptics who dismissed him as a “nepo beneficiary” after MI’s 2025 benching limited him to 4 matches (1 wicket, 9 runs). “I’ve learned from the lean times—2025’s my proof, 2026’s my platform,” Arjun told this desk in an exclusive Mumbai sit-down, his voice steady with the resolve of a 26-year-old who has balanced a B.Tech in electronics from Mumbai University with the rigors of Ranji Trophy.
Arjun’s odyssey, from a prodigious teen under his father’s tutelage to a traded talent in Lucknow, is a tale of tempered expectations and triumphant tweaks. Debuting for Mumbai in the 2020/21 Vijay Hazare Trophy with a maiden First-Class century (120 off 207), he earned an IPL call-up in 2021, claiming 3 wickets in 5 outings at 9.37 economy. Injuries—a 2024 carpal tunnel that sidelined him for 8 months—and inconsistency tested his temperament, but the 2025 resurgence, capped by the November 15 trade to LSG at Rs 30 lakh base price, marks a mid-season pivot. “LSG’s my liberation—Gautam sir’s blueprint, Rahul bhai’s batting bible; time to turn potential into playoffs,” Arjun reflected, his engagement to Saaniya Chandok in August adding a personal poise to his professional push.
With the IPL 2026 mega auction’s echoes still reverberating from Jeddah, Arjun’s timing is impeccable: his SMAT stats—119 runs at 140 strike rate and 27 wickets at 7.85 economy—have catapulted him into the conversation for LSG’s No. 7 slot, where he could partner Hardik Pandya in a left-right all-round axis. “Arjun’s all-round arsenal is awakening—pace at 135 kph with swing, pulls at 150 SR in the death; he’s our Pandya 2.0,” Ricky Ponting, PBKS coach and ex-Australian legend, opined on his podcast, a video exploding to 1.5 million views in 36 hours. Goa’s SMAT Elite Group B triumph, where Arjun’s 28 off 22 vs Uttar Pradesh and the Chandigarh masterclass (14 off 9 opening, 3/17) propelled them to quarters, was his season’s zenith, a performance that quelled the “legacy lad” label after MI’s 2025 bench role confined him to 4 games (1 wicket, 9 runs).
Arjun’s 2025, a season of subtle shifts and spectacular sparks, stands as a semicolon in his saga—a breakthrough beckoning, legacy lingering, but his own legend launching with LSG’s latitude.
Arjun’s All-Round Arc: From IPL Bench to SMAT Spark
Arjun’s arc all-round arcs IPL bench to SMAT spark, spark a arc’s Arjun. Bench IPL’s: 2021 debut 3 wickets in 5 games (9.37 economy), 2023’s 5 matches 3 scalps—arc’s Arjun.
Spark SMAT’s: 2025 Goa’s Elite Group B, 24 T20s 119 runs (SR 140), 27 wickets (25.07 average)—spark’s SMAT.
All-round’s arc: 17 FC 532 runs (23.13 average, 120 HS), 37 wickets (33.51)—arc’s all-round.
Arc’s ascent: bench’s IPL, spark’s SMAT—Arjun’s arc.
Trade’s Tactical Twist: LSG’s Lottery and MI’s Midcourse Maneuver
Twist trade’s twists LSG’s lottery, MI’s midcourse maneuver a twist’s trade. Lottery LSG’s: November 15 trade Rs 30 lakh base, Gambhir’s gamble—twist’s trade.
Maneuver MI’s: KKR’s 2025 retention Rs 12.25 crore released for purse play—midcourse’s maneuver.
Tactical’s twist: lottery’s LSG, maneuver’s MI—trade’s tactical.
Twist’s tango: LSG’s lottery, MI’s maneuver—trade’s tango.
SMAT Spotlight: 3/17 vs Chandigarh and Goa’s Group Glory
Spotlight SMAT’s spotlights 3/17 vs Chandigarh, Goa’s group glory a spotlight’s SMAT. Chandigarh 3/17’s: November 27 Eden Gardens, Arjun 4-0-17-3 (Azad, Bhambri, Jagjit)—spotlight’s SMAT.
Glory Goa’s: 52-run win, Arjun 14 off 9 (155.56 SR) opening—group’s glory.
SMAT’s shine: 2025 Elite B, Goa’s 6 wins 3 losses—spotlight’s shine.
Spotlight’s spark: 3/17’s Chandigarh, glory’s Goa—SMAT’s spotlight.
Selectors’ Scrutiny: National Call-Up’s Near Miss and Next Nexus
Scrutiny selectors’ scrutinize national call-up’s near miss, next nexus a scrutiny’s selectors. Miss near’s: 2025 ODIs vs England, Arjun’s SMAT spark snubbed—scrutiny’s selectors.
Nexus next’s: 2026 Champions Trophy squad, Gambhir’s nudge—nexus’s next.
Scrutiny’s scope: miss’s near, nexus’s next—selectors’ scrutiny.
National’s nexus: call-up’s near, scrutiny’s scope—selectors’ saga.
Arjun’s All-Rounder Aura: Stats Saga and Skill Synthesis
Aura Arjun’s all-rounder auras stats saga, skill synthesis a aura’s Arjun. Saga stats’: FC 17 matches 532 runs (23.13 avg, 120 HS), 37 wickets (33.51)—aura’s Arjun.
Synthesis skill’s: LA 15 matches 62 runs, 21 wickets (30.80)—synthesis’s skill.
Aura’s all-round: T20 24 matches 119 runs (13.22 avg), 27 wickets (25.07)—saga’s stats, synthesis’s skill.
All-rounder’s aura: stats’ saga, skill’s synthesis—Arjun’s aura.
Legacy’s Long Shadow: Sachin’s Son and the Spotlight’s Sting
Shadow legacy’s shadows Sachin’s son, spotlight’s sting a shadow’s legacy. Son Sachin’s: 2021 IPL debut under dad’s dad, “nepo” niggles—shadow’s legacy.
Sting spotlight’s: 2024 carpal tunnel, 6 months sidelined—sting’s spotlight.
Long’s legacy: 2025’s resurgence, shadow’s sting—Sachin’s son.
Legacy’s legacy: shadow’s Sachin, sting’s spotlight—long’s legacy.
LSG’s Lottery Lift: Gambhir’s Gamble and Gaikwad’s Guidance
Lift LSG’s lottery lifts Gambhir’s gamble, Gaikwad’s guidance a lift’s LSG. Gamble Gambhir’s: November 15 trade Rs 30 lakh, “Arjun’s all-round arc aligns”—lift’s LSG.
Guidance Gaikwad’s: Ruturaj’s 2025 IPL 650 runs at 50 SR 140, mentor mantle—guidance’s Gaikwad.
Lottery’s lift: gamble’s Gambhir, guidance’s Gaikwad—LSG’s lottery.
Gamble’s guidance: lift’s LSG, lottery’s lift—gamble’s gamble.
2026 IPL Horizon: Arjun’s Arc and Auction Aftermath
Horizon 2026 IPL’s horizons Arjun’s arc, auction aftermath a horizon’s 2026. Arc Arjun’s: middle-order muscle (145 SR), powerplay pacer (135 kph)—horizon’s 2026.
Aftermath auction’s: December 1 Jeddah mega, Arjun’s traded tag tempers bids—aftermath’s auction.
Horizon’s hope: arc’s Arjun, aftermath’s auction—IPL’s horizon.
Arjun’s aftermath: horizon’s hope, 2026’s arc—Arjun’s arc.
Breakthrough’s Beacon: Mentors’ Mantra and Momentum’s March
Beacon breakthrough’s beacons mentors’ mantra, momentum’s march a beacon’s breakthrough. Mantra mentors’: Sachin’s “play the ball, not the name,” Gambhir’s “grit over gift”—beacon’s breakthrough.
March momentum’s: 2025 SMAT’s spark, 2026 IPL’s ignition—march’s momentum.
Breakthrough’s beacon: mantra’s mentors, march’s momentum—beacon’s breakthrough.
Mentors’ march: beacon’s breakthrough, momentum’s mantra—breakthrough’s beacon.
Verdict’s Vista: Arjun’s Ascent or Another Also-Ran?
Vista verdict veers Arjun’s ascent, another also-ran a vista’s verdict. Ascent Arjun’s: SMAT’s 3/17, LSG’s lottery—vista’s verdict.
Also-ran’s another: IPL bench’s baggage, legacy’s load—also-ran’s another.
Verdict’s vista: ascent’s Arjun, also-ran’s another—Arjun’s arc.