'Khelega hi nahi': Ashwin's blunt verdict on Arjun Tendulkar at LSG

Arjun Tendulkar and Ashwin (Image credit: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: With Lucknow Super Giants already boasting a star-studded pace arsenal, Arjun Tendulkar, son of legendary Sachin Tendulkar, may struggle for opportunities in his new team, according to former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin. LSG have Mayank Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan and Akash Singh in their pace unit, and given the strength of their attack, Arjun’s chances of featuring in the playing XI appear slim.“Arjun Tendulkar khelega hi nahi (Arjun Tendulkar won’t play at all), and let’s not even go there. I think it is very difficult because there are Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, and Mohammad Shami in this lineup. There are so many fast bowlers. How will he play? I don’t think he makes any case unless and until there are a lot of injuries,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

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Arjun was traded from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction in December.He was first picked by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2021 mini-auction for Rs 20 lakh but did not play a game that season. He was bought again by the five-time champions in the IPL 2023 mega-auction for Rs 30 lakh and finally made his long-awaited debut. In his first IPL outing against Kolkata Knight Riders, Arjun bowled two overs, conceded 17 runs and went wicketless. He featured in four matches that season and took three wickets. In IPL 2024, he played just one match under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy.Commenting on LSG’s prospects this season, Ashwin did not mince words and said the team is unlikely to make the playoffs. LSG endured underwhelming campaigns in the last two seasons, finishing seventh in both IPL 2024 and IPL 2025.

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“I have pure clarity of the teams that will be in the top three. Four, five, and six is going to be a race, and LSG is not even in that four, five, or six, in my view. They will fall out of the six,” Ashwin said.LSG are set to begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the Delhi Capitals on April 1.