Arjun Tendulkar, the son of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, endured a tough outing in Goa’s opening match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament. Facing Mumbai in Hyderabad, Arjun struggled both with the ball and bat. He conceded 48 runs in his four-over spell without taking a wicket, proving costly for his team. His batting performance also left much to be desired, as he managed just 9 runs off 4 balls. Goa ultimately fell short, losing to Mumbai by 26 runs in a disappointing start to the tournament.
This match was a critical opportunity for Arjun to showcase his skills and attract attention from IPL franchises ahead of the 2025 mega auction. The auction, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25, is a significant event for players aiming to secure IPL contracts. However, Arjun’s recent form might make it challenging for him to find a bidder. Released by the Mumbai Indians (MI) after two seasons, he played just five matches for the franchise, picking up three wickets. MI had initially acquired him for ₹30 lakh during the 2022 mega auction but decided not to retain him after two underwhelming seasons.
During the 2023 IPL season, Arjun played four matches and managed to claim three wickets. In the 2024 season, he featured in only one game as MI finished at the bottom of the league table. These modest performances, combined with his recent struggles, put him in a precarious position ahead of the auction. While he has shown glimpses of potential, consistency remains a key challenge for the young all-rounder.
In contrast, Shreyas Iyer stole the spotlight in the same match with an extraordinary batting display. Representing Mumbai, Iyer hammered an unbeaten 130 off just 57 balls, including 11 fours and 10 sixes. His explosive innings, played at a strike rate of 228.07, helped Mumbai post a mammoth 250/4 in their 20 overs. Iyer’s innings proved to be a match-winning effort and underscored his incredible form in domestic cricket. Released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he previously led the team to an IPL title, Iyer enters the auction in Marquee Set 1 and is expected to fetch a lucrative contract.
Iyer’s contrasting performance highlights the ups and downs of professional cricket. While Arjun Tendulkar faces an uncertain future in the IPL, Iyer’s dominant form solidifies his position as one of the most sought-after players in the upcoming auction.
