Arjun Tendulkar makes Mumbai age group debut at Wankhede
Arjun Tendulkar would have many a fond memory of the Wankhede stadium. He was there in the dressing room as the son of his illustrious father when India won the 2011 World Cup. He was also there doing ball boy duties when his father played the 200th and his final Test match for India.
But January 24, 2014 was different for the 13-year-old. He was again at the Wankhede, but this time it wasn't an 'I was there moment'. On this occasion, he was at the centre of action, grabbing attention. Mumbai U-14 was facing off against Gujarat U-14 in the West Zone league, but Arjun was making his Mumbai age group debut.
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He had been a part of the Mumbai U-14 squad last year as well but did not make the playing eleven in any of the games. His mother Anjali was there to receive him at the Mumbai Central railway station as he came back victorious with the Mumbai squad from Ahmedabad.
As Arjun walked into the field for the first time in Mumbai whites, his parents did not come to see him play live; aware that there is a lot he would be dealing with, what with the weight of his surname. But his mother Anjali and his famous father did come to see him at the club house of the stadium, a day before the game, to wish him luck.
That luck bore fruit quite early into the innings as Arjun coming on to bowl first change got the first Gujarat wicket to fall with his left arm medium pace. His all-round ability notwithstanding, coaches working with him closely say he is being looked at as a batsman who can also bowl. Gujarat side folded up for 150 and the first wicket was the only one Arjun got.
Then arrived the junior Tendulkar to bat, opening the innings for Mumbai. The mannerisms were familiar as he walked into bat, from touching the grass, looking towards the heavens, digging dirt off the wicket as he would prepare to take stance. Left-handed Arjun Tendulkar's drives would evoke claps from his cheer squad, the security man who stays with him all the while and his driver.
He would occasionally play and miss, in between drive with panache, alert to the opportunity to clip the ball away drifting towards leg.
Till he was dismissed for 36, Arjun wasn't a revelation but did not let the selectors down who picked him in the squad outside of the probables' list. Arjun may well be trying to do the best he can in a sport he has seen his father play at the highest level all his life.
He may or may not make a career with cricket. But till he is on the road, he is living a dream of many and it's a great story to romanticise about.
Arjun Tendulkar would have many a fond memory of the Wankhede stadium. He was there in the dressing room as the son of his illustrious father when India won the 2011 World Cup. He was also there doing ball boy duties when his father played the 200th and his final Test match for India.
But January 24, 2014 was different for the 13-year-old. He was again at the Wankhede, but this time it wasn't an 'I was there moment'. On this occasion, he was at the centre of action, grabbing attention. Mumbai U-14 was facing off against Gujarat U-14 in the West Zone league, but Arjun was making his Mumbai age group debut.
Arjun Tendulkar. PTI
As Arjun walked into the field for the first time in Mumbai whites, his parents did not come to see him play live; aware that there is a lot he would be dealing with, what with the weight of his surname. But his mother Anjali and his famous father did come to see him at the club house of the stadium, a day before the game, to wish him luck.
That luck bore fruit quite early into the innings as Arjun coming on to bowl first change got the first Gujarat wicket to fall with his left arm medium pace. His all-round ability notwithstanding, coaches working with him closely say he is being looked at as a batsman who can also bowl. Gujarat side folded up for 150 and the first wicket was the only one Arjun got.
Then arrived the junior Tendulkar to bat, opening the innings for Mumbai. The mannerisms were familiar as he walked into bat, from touching the grass, looking towards the heavens, digging dirt off the wicket as he would prepare to take stance. Left-handed Arjun Tendulkar's drives would evoke claps from his cheer squad, the security man who stays with him all the while and his driver.
He would occasionally play and miss, in between drive with panache, alert to the opportunity to clip the ball away drifting towards leg.
Till he was dismissed for 36, Arjun wasn't a revelation but did not let the selectors down who picked him in the squad outside of the probables' list. Arjun may well be trying to do the best he can in a sport he has seen his father play at the highest level all his life.
He may or may not make a career with cricket. But till he is on the road, he is living a dream of many and it's a great story to romanticise about.
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