Arjun Tendulkar, son of Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, made a memorable debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) by taking a crucial wicket for the Mumbai Indians (MI) against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). With just 20 runs to defend in the final over, MI captain Rohit Sharma entrusted the 23-year-old with the responsibility, and he didn’t disappoint. Tendulkar conceded a mere five runs and dismissed Bhuvneshwar Kumar, securing his first wicket in the tournament.
Ravi Shastri, former India head coach, spoke with Tendulkar after the match, highlighting that his father had never taken a wicket in his 78 IPL appearances. “You’ve gone one up on Sachin,” Shastri remarked. Tendulkar humbly responded by sharing his thought process during the crucial over, focusing on executing the team’s plan and using the long boundary to his advantage.
Revealing his approach to bowling, the young Tendulkar said, “I just focused on my release, bowling good lengths and lines upfront. If it swings, it’s a bonus, if it doesn’t, so be it.” He also mentioned discussing tactics with his father before the game, who advised him to “back what I practise every game.”