The Indian cricket scene has consistently been captivating over the years, witnessing various developments aimed at harnessing the untapped potential of emerging cricketers nationwide. In line with this, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to organize a three-week training camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Notably, Arjun Tendulkar, the son of the renowned Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, has been called upon to participate in the camp.
Significantly, the BCCI has exclusively selected young players who have demonstrated impressive performances with both batting and bowling in recent domestic leagues, including the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL). Regarding the camp, its objective is to enhance the skills of these talented individuals, preparing them for a potential transition to the elite level in the future. Moreover, the selection of players for the camp has been carried out by the senior national selection committee, currently led by former Indian opener Shiv Sunder Das on an interim basis.
BCCI summons Arjun Tendulkar
“There is an Emerging Asia Cup (U-23) also later this year and BCCI is looking at potential youngsters. The all-rounders camp is an idea of NCA’s head of cricket VVS Laxman to ensure that we develop a lot of multi-skilled players across formats,” a senior BCCI source said.
“Not everyone summoned for camp is a pure all-rounder. Some are batting all-rounders and some are opposite. The idea is to tap the potential and help them upgrade their skills suitably for transition to next grade,” he added.
In addition to Tendulkar, several other promising young players have been invited to join the camp. Chetan Sakariya, a left-arm paceman and batter from Saurashtra, who represented India in 2021, and Abhishek Sharma, a left-handed all-rounder from Sunrisers Hyderabad, are among the cricketers who have received the call-up. Additionally, Harsit Rana from Delhi has been selected to join the camp. It is worth noting that Rana was previously called up as a net bowler for the senior Indian team ahead of their trip to the UK for the WTC finals.
Regarding the inclusion of Arjun Tendulkar in the camp, when questioned about his selection despite his relatively average performances in recent times, a source from the BCCI emphasized that Tendulkar Junior had scored a century on his debut for Goa in the Ranji Trophy. Additionally, the source highlighted his value as a left-arm paceman, bringing a sense of diversity to the team.
“Arjun already has a Ranji Trophy century. A left-arm pacer who bowls between early and mid 130 kmph and bats left-handed. He brings in variety.” But can his call-up be questioned, considering his modest performance in domestic cricket? “It is not just about numbers but also about potential. He is 23 and has time to develop is what this (senior selection) committee thinks. Else, they wouldn’t have picked him,” he further added.
It is worth mentioning that Arjun Tendulkar had the opportunity to play three matches for the Mumbai Indians in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), where he showcased commendable bowling skills. Furthermore, when considering his performance in domestic cricket, Tendulkar has taken 12 wickets in seven first-class matches.
