'Making the squad is one thing, entering the playing XI another' - Shane Bond opens up on Arjun Tendulkar's non-selection in MI XI

Arjun Tendulkar was picked by Mumbai Indians in the 2022 Indian Premier League auction. He was picked by the same franchise in the previous year’s auction as well. However, in both seasons, the pacer finished the tournament without playing a single game. Mumbai Indians (MI) bowling coach Shane Bond has explained the decision behind benching Arjun throughout the season.

Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler and bowling coach of MI, stressed that the 22-year-old still needs to develop himself. MI went for several other young recruits this season such as Dewald Brevis, Tim David, Ramandeep Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, Tristan Stubbs and Sanjay Yadav and while most of them were given the opportunity, Arjun, for the second season in a row, went unused. 

Arjun Tendulkar has a lot of hard work and development to do: Shane Bond

The former Kiwi pacer mentioned that Arjun needs to improve his batting and fielding before finding his place in the playing XI. 

“He’s got some work to go. When you’re playing for a team like Mumbai, making the squad is one thing but entering the playing XI is another. He still has a lot of hard work and development to do. When you play at this level, there’s a fine line between giving everyone a game… but you have to earn your spot too. Arjun needs to work on his batting and fielding before finding a place on the team. Hopefully, he can make those progressions and earn a spot in the team,” Bond told Sportskeeda.

Earlier, Arjun’s father Sachin himself had revealed his advice to his son. “My conversation with Arjun has always been that the path is going to be challenging, it is going to be difficult. You started playing cricket because you are in love with cricket, continue to do so, continue to work hard and results will follow,” Tendulkar had said on SachInsight.

Meanwhile, MI’s campaign this year was much below their regular standards as the five-time champions ended the tournament with only four wins in 14 games, sitting down at the bottom of the table.