Some big reports and rumors of trades that could happen are floating in the air ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. While the news that’s hogged everyone’s attention is that of the rumored trade between Hardik Pandya and Jofra Archer, another rumor of a trade involving a Mumbai Indians player, Arjun Tendulkar, is also of significance.
According to some, it is believed that the young Mumbai Indians all-rounder Arjun could be traded away to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)!
This potential move of Arjun to RCB could be a trade for either an RCB player or for only cash. Mumbai Indians are reported to make some big released to beef up their purse ahead of the IPL 2024 auction next month. For that, they are rumored to release the likes of Jofra Archer, Dewald Brevis, and Arjun Tendulkar.
Apart from the rumor of Hardik Pandya coming back to Mumbai Indians, in a potential trade of Hardik with Archer, this news of Arjun Tendulkar being traded away to RCB is crucial.
The son of legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Arjun made his IPL debut last season for Mumbai Indians. But he didn’t take the IPL by storm.
IPL 2023, Arjun Tendulkar picked 3 wickets in 4 matches and leaked runs at an economy of 9.5. With the bat, he managed only 13 runs.
Last year, Arjun had left Mumbai domestic team and shifted to Goa in order to gain more gametime and experience. In 20 T20 matches, he has taken 26 wickets and averaged only 12 with the bat. In the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament, he did well to take 11 wickets in 7 matches and score 65 runs at a strike rate of 144.
Will Mumbai Indians release Arjun Tendulkar?
Even if the rumors say that Arjun Tendulkar could be either traded away or released, Mumbai Indians are unlikely to do so given Arjun is young and is a pace-bowling all-rounder, something which is an asset and a rare type in Indian cricket.
Mumbai Indians, despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Archer playing in only 5 matches, managed to reach the IPL playoffs, and were just one step away from the final, losing in Qualifier 2.
