‘Khelega hi nahi’: Ashwin’s blunt comment on LSG’s Arjun Tendulkar

New Delhi: Lucknow Supergiants already have a star-studded pace arsenal and Arjun Tendulkar, son of legend Sachin Tendulkar, is likely to get a chance in the new team, a former Indian cricketer said. Ravichandran Ashwin. LSG have Mayank Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan and Akash Singh in their pace line-up and considering the intensity of their attack, the chances of Arjun appearing in the starting lineup seems slim.“Arjun Tendulkar khelega hi nahi (Arjun Tendulkar will not play at all), we are not even going 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 will make any case unless there are a lot of injuries,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Arjun was traded from mumbai indians It will be auctioned to Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction in December.He was first picked by Mumbai Indians for Rs 20 lakh in the IPL 2021 mini-auction, but he did not play any matches that season. He was bought again by the five-time champions for Rs 30 lakh at the IPL 2023 mega auction and finally made his long-awaited debut. In his first IPL match, against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Arjun conceded 17 runs in two overs and did not take a wicket. He played four matches that season and took three wickets. In IPL 2024, he played just one match under Hardik Pandya.When talking about LSG’s prospects this season, Ashwin bluntly stated that the team is unlikely to enter the playoffs. LSG have had mediocre performances over the past two seasons, finishing seventh in both IPL 2024 and IPL 2025.

“I know very well which teams are going to be in the top three. Four, five, six will be a race to the bottom and LSG, in my opinion, are not even in four, five or six. They will drop out of six,” Ashwin said.LSG will begin their IPL 2026 campaign on April 1 against Delhi Capitals.