Panaji: Arjun Tendulkar, son of former India captain Sachin Tendulkar, has been left out of Goa’s 16-member squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy campaign, despite recently reaching the milestone of 50 wickets in first-class cricket for the state.
The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) announced its squad on Friday, naming Abhinav Tejrana as captain. Arjun, who has represented Goa since the 2022-23 domestic season after moving from Mumbai, did not feature in the list released by the association.
The omission comes after the 27-year-old was also absent from Goa’s recent tour of Oman. Reports had suggested that he had decided to continue playing for Goa, but his name was missing when the state association unveiled its squad for the domestic first-class competition.
Arjun last played for Goa in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, featuring against Kerala at Porvorim. He also represented the state in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Goa announce 16-member Ranji Trophy squad
The GCA announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy campaign through a post on its official Instagram account.
Abhinav Tejrana will lead the team, which includes a mix of experienced domestic players and younger cricketers.
The squad comprises Abhinav Tejrana (captain), Suyash Prabhudesai, Manthan Khutkar, Lalit Yadav, Snehal Kauthankar, Shivendra Bhujbal, Koushik V, Shubham Tari, Ruthvik Naik, Darshan Misal, Yash Kasvankar, Amulya Pandrekar, Deepraj Gaonkar, Rajshekhar Harikant, Mohit Redkar and Felix Alemao.
Arjun Tendulkar was not included in the announced list. The association’s announcement did not specify a reason for his omission.
The team will be guided by head coach Dinesh Mongia, with Krishna Rao serving as bowling coach. Prakash Mayenkar will oversee coaching and cricket operations as senior men’s director, while Anil Joglekar has been named team manager.
The GCA’s leadership, including president Mahesh Desai and secretary Tulshidas Shetye, extended its best wishes to the players ahead of the tournament.
Arjun Tendulkar recently reached 50 first-class wickets
Arjun’s exclusion comes shortly after he completed 50 wickets in first-class cricket for Goa.
The milestone marked a notable achievement in his domestic career, which has included opportunities in both red-ball and limited-overs cricket since his move to the state.
The left-arm fast bowler began his senior domestic career with Mumbai before switching to Goa ahead of the 2022-23 season. The move gave him an opportunity to pursue regular cricket in a different domestic setup.
Since joining Goa, he has been part of the state’s Ranji Trophy campaign and has also featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic one-day competition.
His recent milestone had brought attention to his progress as a bowler. However, the latest squad announcement means he will not be part of Goa’s selected group for the upcoming Ranji Trophy campaign, at least according to the list released by the association.
The GCA has not publicly explained the decision in its squad announcement.
Last featured against Kerala
Arjun’s most recent appearance for Goa in the Ranji Trophy came against Kerala during the 2025-26 season. The match was played at Porvorim, Goa.
He also featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, maintaining his involvement in the state’s domestic cricket programme.
His absence from the latest Ranji squad follows his non-selection for Goa’s tour of Oman. While reports had indicated that he intended to remain with Goa, the latest announcement has raised questions about his immediate role in the team.
The omission alone does not establish whether the decision is related to form, team combination, fitness or another selection consideration. The association has not provided a specific explanation in the announcement.
Goa prepare for another Ranji Trophy campaign
The Ranji Trophy remains one of India’s premier domestic cricket competitions, providing players with an opportunity to compete in multi-day matches and strengthen their credentials for higher levels of the game.
For Goa, the campaign will offer the selected squad a chance to build on its domestic performances under Tejrana’s leadership and the coaching staff led by Mongia.
The squad includes players such as Suyash Prabhudesai, Snehal Kauthankar, Darshan Misal and Mohit Redkar, who have featured in Goa’s domestic cricket setup.
The team’s preparation will now focus on the upcoming competition, with the association having confirmed its leadership group and support staff.
The omission of Arjun is likely to attract attention because of his family background and his progress in domestic cricket. However, selection decisions are made by the team management, and the reasons behind his absence remain unclear without an official explanation.
What next for Arjun Tendulkar?
Arjun’s immediate domestic schedule remains uncertain following his exclusion from Goa’s announced Ranji Trophy squad.
His recent achievement of 50 first-class wickets for Goa highlights his contribution to the state since joining in 2022-23. He has also gained experience in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Ranji Trophy.
For now, the GCA’s squad list confirms that he is not among the 16 players selected for the upcoming Ranji campaign. The association has not indicated whether he could be considered for later matches or other competitions.
Goa will begin its campaign with Tejrana as captain and Mongia leading the coaching setup. Arjun’s next opportunity in domestic cricket will depend on future selection decisions and any subsequent announcements from the association.