Arjun Tendulkar’s IPL struggles and Yograj Singh's training promise

Arjun Tendulkar's induction into the Indian Premier League (IPL) hasn't yet turned heads. The young left-arm pace allrounder, carrying the heavy legacy of his father, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, managed to claim three wickets over four games in the 2023 season for the Mumbai Indians.

However, his performance dipped in the IPL 2024, as he couldn't secure any wickets in the lone match he played.

A key figure in Arjun's training journey has been Yograj Singh, a former Indian cricketer and father of celebrated cricketer Yuvraj Singh.

Having coached Arjun briefly, Yograj is convinced of the potential that Arjun holds with the bat—a conviction that was reaffirmed when Arjun hit a century in his Ranji Trophy debut after training under Yograj's guidance.

In a revealing conversation with former IPL player Taruwar Kohli, Yograj Singh expressed his belief in Arjun's batting prowess. "If Arjun Tendulkar comes to me now, I will make him the world's greatest batter in six months.

Nobody truly knows the potential he has as a batsman. He trained with me for just 12 days and went on to score a century in his Ranji Trophy debut. Was that noticed?" Yograj said on Kohli's YouTube channel.

Yograj reflected on the time when Goa's team visited, and both Sachin and Yuvraj prompted Arjun to train with him.

"I saw immense potential: 'He's such a great batter, why is he being focused only on bowling?' As a batting all-rounder, he'd thrive," Yograj remarked.

Yograj Singh also revealed in another interview his thoughts on why Arjun ceased training with him, citing potential reputational concerns.

"When Arjun scored that hundred and returned to the IPL, there was apprehension about him being linked to me. People are wary of having certain tags," he said on 'Unfiltered by Samdish'.

Yograj urged Sachin, through Yuvraj, to trust him with Arjun's development for a year, promising significant improvement. "I told Yuvi—convey to Sachin—leave him with me for a year, and see the transformation," Yograj added.

Since debuting in the IPL in 2023, Arjun has played five matches for the Mumbai Indians, securing a base price of Rs 30 lakhs in the IPL 2025 mega auctions, despite a challenging initial phase.

Reflecting on Yograj Singh's cricketing background, one finds a brief international career—comprising one Test and six ODIs for India, with his last appearance dating back to 1981.

Arjun Tendulkar's journey continues, and with guidance, he might yet carve out a legacy of his own in the cricketing world.