New Delhi : The Indian team list will once again have the famous Tendulkar surname back as legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun was included in U-19 side for the two four-day games against Sri Lanka. Standing at 6ft 1inch, the 18 year old Arjun is a left arm fast bowler and a handy lower middle order batsman.
Two India U-19 squads were announced on Thursday in Bengaluru with Anuj Rawat and Aryan Juyal leading the side.
Tendulkar senior expressed his happiness on his son’s selection in India U-19 team. “We are happy on Arjun being selected in India U-19 team. It is an important milestone in his cricketing life. Anjali [Tendulkar] and I will always support Arjun in his choices and pray for his success,” Tendulkar said.
However, an innocuous selection meeting became interesting as the three member selection committee comprising Ashish Kapoor, Gyanendra Pandey and Rakesh Parikh selected Tendulkar junior for the longer version.
Arjun with his tally of 18 wickets from five Cooch Behar Trophy (National U-19) games is 43rd in the list of wicket-takers for the season. He had one five wicket haul (5-95) against MP.
“There is a clear direction from BCCI and coach Rahul Dravid that those who will surpass 19 by this year should not be selected even if they have performed. Let them play Ranji Trophy according to Rahul. So a lot of boys ahead of Arjun are disqualified,” a senior BCCI official said.
However, Harsh Tyagi (49 wickets), a left-arm spinner from Delhi is in both the squads. When a source close to the selection committee was asked how Arjun despite being 43rd in the wicket takers list made the cut, he explained: “If you look at the List, Arjun is the only genuine quick bowler who has more than 15 wickets. Most of the bowlers above him are spinners with only Ajay Dev Goud (33 wickets) being a genuine all-rounder. He is a slow medium bowler while Arjun is quick bowler. “A lot of people don’t know U-19 zonals are happening at Una and Arjun has done well there.”
WV Raman has been given an extension and will be the coach of this team as Dravid will be with the ‘A’ squad in England.
Squad for four-day games: Anuj Rawat (Capt & WK), Atharva Taide, Devdutt Padikkal, Aryan Juyal (VC & WK), Yash Rathod, Ayush Badoni, Sameer Choudhary, Siddharth Desai, Harsh Tyagi, YD Mangwani, Arjun Tendulkar, Nehal Wadhera, Akash Pande, Mohit Jangra, Pawan Shah.
Squad for one-dayers: Aryan Juyal (Capt & WK), Anuj Rawat (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Atharva Taide, Yash Rathod, Ayush Badoni, Sameer Choudhary, Siddharth Desai, Harsh Tyagi, YD Mangwani, Ajay Devgaud, Y Jaiswal, Mohit Jangra, Akash Pande, Pawan Shah.