How the eagle-eyed Langer is proving young Arshin’s guiding light

When arguably one of the game’s finest openers is following your progress, stays in touch and sends a text saying, “Perfect. Very good job!” — you know you’ve done something right.

Maharashtra’s Arshin Kulkarni, playing in the Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai, earned that exact compliment from his Lucknow Super Giants coach, Justin Langer, after a stunning performance.

The 20-year-old from Solapur scored a sensational 146 in the first innings and followed it up with a composed 69 in the second, guiding Maharashtra to a comprehensive win over Himachal Pradesh.

In an exclusive chat with The Hindu, Arshin reflected on the knock, his time with LSG during the IPL, and his rapport with Langer.

“Firstly, I’m pleased I could contribute to my team. I’ve been to Chennai before, during the IPL and trained here. The wicket was excellent — it felt really good to bat on”, Arshin said.

Recollecting the moment he was picked in the IPL auction, he said, “I was at home with my mom and sister. When LSG picked me, they both had tears in their eyes — happy tears. It was one of the most emotional moments for our family”.

His IPL experience, especially the exposure in the dressing room, left a lasting impression.

“It was surreal to share the space with legends. Just observing their work ethic and discipline taught me so much. Rishabh bhaiyya gave me amazing advice — keep things simple and always stay in the present. That really stuck with me”.

Talking about Langer, Arshin shared a key moment from one of their early interactions.

“During our first practice session, JL told me, ‘Watch the ball like Maxwell’. He referenced Maxwell’s 201 in the World Cup — especially how he watched the ball so closely, even when he couldn’t move. That advice stayed with me”.

“JL and I still stay in touch. We keep talking about my batting. I texted him after scoring 146 and 69 in the Buchi Babu, and he replied, ‘Perfect. Very good job!’ That message meant a lot”.

For Arshin, the message is simple: stay grounded and keep doing the job.