Cricket News

‘Not ready to bowl in the death’ – Simon Doull on comparison of young MI pacer to IPL greats

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull discussed Arjun Tendulkar’s performance in the current Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Tendulkar, who is taking part in his first IPL season, has so far appeared in four games for the Mumbai Indians and taken three wickets.

In his first game, Tendulkar was ineffective against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He recovered in his next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) when he held off 20 runs in the final over and claimed his first league wicket. Tendulkar struggled against Punjab Kings, giving up 48 runs in four overs. However, in Mumbai Indians’ most recent match against Gujarat Titans, he could still claim a wicket.

He continued that Tendulkar’s skills are comparable to those of Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar, who bowl two to three overs during the powerplay. Doull continued by saying that Tendulkar’s inexperience makes it difficult for him to bowl in the final few overs.

‘He is more like Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar’ – Simon Doull

“The last thing you want to do to a young man [Arjun Tendulkar] is throw him on the heap after one bad game because he has actually done a pretty good job. I don’t think, in all honesty, and I think Rohit Sharma knows he is not really a death bowler as of yet. He is not a guy they should be bowling in the last four or five. But he went to him to give him an opportunity, and it cost them,” Simon Doull told Cricbuzz.

Tendulkar, the renowned Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s son, has been steadily advancing in his cricketing career, it should be noted. He has played in certain lower-level divisions and has represented Mumbai at various age-group levels. Some people questioned whether he merited a berth in the team based only on merit, while others praised his selection to the Mumbai Indians squad.

Tendulkar has so far in the IPL showed glimmers of his brilliance, but it is still unclear how he will perform as the competition continues. Tendulkar would surely want to take advantage of this chance since the IPL is recognised for offering new players a stage to display their abilities.

“I think he is more like Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar, who bowl two to three overs upfront where it swings a little bit, and then you forget about it. He is not experienced enough at the moment to be bowling at the back end of the innings,” Doull concluded.