‘Judge him as an individual, not as a legend’s son’: Pragyan Ojha on Arjun Tendulkar

Ever since Arjun Tendulkar made his IPL 2023 debut, he’s being subjected to comparison to his father Sachin Tendulkar. Amidst these, former India spinner Pragyan Ojha reckons that Arjun should be treated as an individual and not as Sachin’s son.
Ojha also revealed what former India pacer Zaheer Khan told him about Arjun.
“I was talking to Zaheer Khan the other day, he told me that Arjun is someone you have to drag out of the nets, that’s the dedication he has. We have to judge him as an individual, not as a legend’s son. He has to improve, obviously,” Ojha said during an interaction on Jio Cinema.
“As T20 cricket continues to evolve, you need to have as many skills as possible to sustain in this kinds of leagues, and further go and play a higher level of cricket,” he added.
Ojha lavished praise on the debutante and said that he has demonstrated where hard work and perseverance can take you to.
“I feel, as a young boy who is just playing his second game, he’s shown what hard work and dedication can help you achieve. Bowling those overs isn’t easy, especially when you’re playing in your second game. Whatever were the things he was trying to do, they were happening for him,” he said.
“He was trying to get the ball to swing into the batter, he was able to do that. He was trying to bowl the yorkers, and he was able to do that too. He’s got the temperament, the skill, and he wants to work hard,” he added.
Arjun recorded statics of 0/17 in two overs in his first game against Kolkata Knight Riders before picking up 1/18 in 2.5 overs in his second game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. In his third game, he scalped the all-important wicket of Wriddhiman Saha.
Ojha also praised captain Rohit Sharma for giving Arjun the confidence to defend 20 runs in the final over against Hyderabad and said Rohit did a ‘brilliant’ jon with the bowlers.
“Last game, he (Rohit Sharma) was just brilliant the way he used his bowlers. The confidence that he gave Arjun Tendulkar was just outstanding because a guy who is playing just his second game on this kind of platform and bowling the 20th over, is not easy and it needs a lot of backing,” he said.
Ojha remarked that Rohit has done a great job of striking a balance between managing junior and older players in the team, despite the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Jhye Richardson, and Jofra Archer who are all nursing injuries.

“That’s where I feel Rohit has been brilliant in handling these boys and the seniors in the team. It is very important how you make them feel and Rohit has been exceptional. As a captain, he has been spot on. It is not just chance that you win five trophies. It is planning and how you go about your business. Yes at some point you can say he had a great side, but winning five trophies consently in 15 years’ time is not easy,” Ojha added.