Mumbai Chief Selector explains the reason behind picking Arjun Tendulkar in Mumbai's Ranji team

On December 29, the senior selection committee of Mumbai Cricket Association named a 20-member squad for the first two Ranji Trophy fixtures against Maharashtra and Delhi. Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun Tendulkar was also selected in the team for the first time.

Prithvi Shaw has been selected to lead the squad that contains young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Arman Jaffer. Former captain Aditya Tare who was rested for the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament has been picked in the team.

Chief Selector and former Indian fast bowler Salil Ankola explained the reason behind Arjun’s selection in the team. He said that the all-rounder has been bowling well after recovering from an injury that he sustained this year because of which he missed the second leg of IPL.

“Arjun (Tendulkar) has been bowling well, unfortunately, he was injured in between but he did well in whatever games he played thereafter. We have picked a team looking at the future of Mumbai cricket,” Ankola told Indian Express.

Salil Ankola hopeful Mumbai will do well in Ranji Trophy

Mumbai would be missing key players like Tushar Deshpande, who has been sidelined due to an injury, and Suryakumar Yadav, who is likely to find a place in India’s ODI squad for the South Africa tour next month.

“Unfortunately Tushar Deshpande, our seamer, is injured but it’s a promising team. It’s a mixed team where we have picked players from Under-19 and also who have been part of the Mumbai team for a few years.” Ankola added.

Ankola also added that a few young players are also picked in the team due to their performance in the junior circuit. He is confident that these players will perform really well when the opportunity comes knocking at their doors.

“Unfortunately due to the pandemic, red-ball cricket couldn’t take place last year but we have tried to cover all areas. There are a few young players like Prince Badiani, who did well in under 19 for us. We wanted to promote them and see how they do on the big stage. What we have seen is the players coming from under 19 have performed for the senior men team too. We are hopeful that the team will do well going ahead,” Ankola added.