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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Arjun Tendulkar is all set to begin a fresh campaign in the Indian Premier League. He made his debut in 2023 against Kolkata Knight Riders for Mumbai Indians and was later traded to LSG for INR 30 lakh before the auction.
In the IPL 2021 auction, Arjun was picked for INR 20 lakh by the five-time champions but was ruled out of the season owing to an injury. He was re-signed by the franchise the following year, but had to wait an entire season before making his debut. He featured in four matches in the 2023 season, picking up three wickets and impressing with his ability to swing the new ball.
Mumbai retained him for the next season, but he managed just one appearance in 2024, going wicketless in the two overs he bowled while conceding 22 runs. Arjun was asked about his limited opportunities at MI, and while there was slight frustration at not getting more chances with the five-time champions, he took it in stride.
"Who doesn't feel that? No one wants to sit on the bench. But we want to work hard and perform when we get a chance,” said Arjun on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast.
Arjun will hope that his stint with the new franchise brings him more opportunities. Lucknow Super Giants will open their campaign against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday at the Ekana Stadium. He also opened up about the much-debated Impact Player rule, which has been criticised by several senior Indian players, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
"Pick 11 and play. Because in international T20s, and in any other league, there is no Impact Player. So, I am personally against the Impact Player rule," Arjun said.
Speaking about the IPL 2026 season, the early trend has seen home teams dominate, with all four matches so far being won by sides chasing the target. However, conditions at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow present a different challenge. Unlike some other venues, the Ekana Stadium is generally known to be more batting-friendly, but it does not always favour chasing teams. The pitch can slow down as the match progresses, making stroke play difficult in the second innings.
