MCA Chief Selector Justifies Arjun Tendulkar's Selection In Mumbai Squad For Ranji Trophy 2022, Says 'We Picked A Team Looking At Future Of Mumbai Cricket'

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun Tendulkar has been named in the squad of the Mumbai team for Ranji Trophy 2022 season. The left-handed batsman has been selected for the first two fixtures of Mumbai against Maharashtra and Delhi. MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association) chief selector Salil Ankola justified Arjun Tendulkar’s selection in the squad and revealed the reasons why he was selected.

Arjun Tendulkar is part of the 20-man squad that has been named for the Ranji Trophy 2022. The Mumbai team will be led by Prithvi Shaw. Yashavi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dhaval Kulkarni, and Aditya Tare are some of the players who are also part of the squad.

Also Read: ICC World Test Championship 2021-23: Updated Points Table After 1st Test Between South Africa And India

Arjun Tendulkar Has Been Bowling Well: MCA Chief Selector Salil Ankola

While speaking to The Indian Express, McA chief selector and former India pacer Salil Ankola revealed why Arjun Tendulkar was picked in the squad. He pointed out that Arjun did well in whatever games he played and has been bowling well.

“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.

“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 also mentioned that selectors have also picked players from under 19 as they wanted to promote them and see how they perform on the big stage.

“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 further said.

Also Read: Kuldeep Yadav To Lead Uttar Pradesh In The Upcoming Ranji Trophy 2022 Season

Arjun Tendulkar is a left-handed batsman and left-arm medium pacer. He was picked by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2021 season during the auction for a base price of Rs. 20 lakh. He also made his T20 debut for Mumbai during Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21. Now, he is expected to have a few experiences in the forthcoming Ranji Trophy 2022.

Ranji Trophy 2022 will commence on January 13, 2022, and will conclude with the final on March 14. Ranji Trophy is a prominent domestic tournament in India of 4-day matches which also comes under first-class cricket. There are five groups in Ranji Trophy 2022 namely, Elite Group A, Elite Group B, Elite Group C, Elite Group D, Elite Group E, and Plate. All domestic cricket associations of India stand as part of the tournament.