Former Australia pacer Brett Lee believes that Arjun Tendulkar can bowl at 140 kph. He was all praise for the junior Tendulkar for his all-round ability in T20 cricket. While speaking to Hindustan Times, Lee explained how Arjun could get better with time.
Arjun Tendulkar, after spending three years in the Mumbai Indians camp, finally got the opportunity to be play in the IPL. His first match was decent as he returned with 2-0-17-0. The second game saw him at first giving away 14 runs with the new ball and then defending the final over to win it for Mumbai Indians. Apart from all the praises he is receiving, some are criticising his pace. But what amazed Lee was Arjun’s ability to hold the nerve as a 23-year-old.
Arjun can do all facets
“When he was given the responsibility of bowling at the death the other evening, when he closed out the game and won the match for the Mumbai Indians, whichever way it went, I knew it would have been a great experience. What I mean is that he has been thrown into the deep end and that has been great for him. So he is learning as he goes. And like in the other evening when he got hit for a few runs, that is fine. It happens in T20 cricket and I keep reiterating to bowlers that in this format there will be games when bowlers go the journey. It has happened to me so many times. So you have to take the emotion out of it,” Lee, IPL Expert on JioCinema, explained.
In three matches so far, Arjun has scalped two wickets at an economy of 10.6. While he has been tested with the old and new ball by his captain Rohit Sharma, Lee sounded very impressed with the lad. He said that Arjun could do everything. “I think he can do all facets,” he added, “The thing with Arjun Tendulkar is I have been super impressed. I feel he has been in wonderful fine form for the Mumbai Indians. His new-ball bowling is outstanding, he is swinging the ball, he is getting the most swing out of the Mumbai Indians. He is well-suited for the middle overs and with experience he will enjoy bowling at the death overs. I am all praise for him.”
Lee on the pace
Further Lee spoke about Arjun’s pace that has been a point of criticism since day one. “People criticise almost everything. If you look at Sandeep Sharma, he has been bowling at 120 kph. Arjun is at least bowling way faster than that. He is only 23 years of age and he has got his whole career ahead of him. My advice will be don’t listen to critics. Like his dad had to go through like he misses out and gets a low score…you got to back yourself. He has got some wonderful skills. He can bowl at 140 kph so as soon as he gets comfortable bowling in the team environment, in front of the big lights and big crowd, his pace will increase. I see no issue with his pace. I know how fast he can bowl. He has got all the talent and all the right attributes. So my advice would be tokeep doing what you have been doing and don’t listen to those people who are trying to have a go at him because remember most people who will criticise on social media have never bowled a ball in their life. They are keyboard warriors,” he said.
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