IPL 2026: Former India cricketer Yograj Singh has strongly criticised Ravichandran Ashwin after the veteran spinner ruled out Arjun Tendulkar’s chances of featuring for Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
Arjun, son of legendary Sachin Tendulkar, was traded to Lucknow Super Giants from Mumbai Indians ahead of the upcoming season. However, Ashwin expressed doubts about the young all-rounder’s place in the playing XI, citing stiff competition in the pace department.
“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.
Reacting to the comments, Yograj launched a scathing attack on Ashwin, questioning his right to make such remarks. “He is talking bulls**t, this guy, R Ashwin, whoever he is. He should know what to talk about somebody. Somebody is sitting on the television and talking, ‘Oh, he can’t do this, he can’t do that.’ Who are you? What are you?” Yograj said while speaking to InsideSport.
Yograj, who has previously worked with Arjun, also suggested that the player has been misunderstood and mismanaged. “He is Sachin Tendulkar’s son, that is a different story. When he was here, I told Yuvi that all of you are concentrating on the wrong Arjun Tendulkar. He is not a bowler, he had a spine problem and his hands come down from 45 degrees,” he added.
Yograj further made a bold claim, stating that he could transform Arjun into a top-class batter with proper training. “If you can’t do it, send him to me. I challenge the whole world that if Arjun Tendulkar spends six months with me, he will surpass all the batters in this world. If not, I will cut off my beard and throw it,” he said.
Lucknow Super Giants have assembled a pace-heavy squad for IPL 2026, featuring several established and emerging fast bowlers, making competition for spots intense. Arjun has played five IPL matches so far, taking three wickets at an average of 38 and an economy rate of 9.37.
Lucknow Super Giants squad: Abdul Samad, Aiden Markram, Akash Singh, Arjun Tendulkar, Arshin Kulkarni, Avesh Khan, Ayush Badoni, Digvesh Rathi, Himmat Singh, Manimaran Siddharth, Matthew Breetzke, Mayank Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mitchell Marsh, Mohsin Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Prince Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shahbaz Ahmed, Josh Inglis, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Anrich Nortje, Wanindu Hasaranga, Naman Tiwari.