Arjun Tendulkar makes IPL debut for Mumbai Indians

Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun makes his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders

Arjun was picked by the five-time IPL champions for the first time during the 2021 auction at his base price of ₹20 lakh

Arjun Tendulkar made his Indian Premier League debut on Sunday bowling for Mumbai Indians, the team once captained by his illustrious batsman father Sachin Tendulkar.

Standing at over six feet (1.83 metres) tall, the 23-year-old left-hander was given the new ball in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. He joined five-time IPL winners Mumbai in 2021 — making his T20 debut for thes tate team the same year — but this was the first time he had been picked for the franchise. The paceman has played seven first-class matches for Goa, after shifting bases to the western state last year.
His father, who has almost god-like status in cricket-mad India, began his career with Mumbai state’s junior team before being picked for the senior side at the age of 15.

The 23-year-old all-rounder opened the bowling attack for Mumbai Indians and sent down two impressive overs in which he got the ball to move into the right-handed batters early in the innings.
While the Wankhede Stadium is the home ground for Arjun and Mumbai Indians, the young cricketer is no longer associated with domestic side Mumbai as he moved to Goa in the second half of 2022 in pursuit of regular playing time in domestic circuit.

Arjun Tendulkar with father Sachin; Sara cheers from stands

Ahead of the toss, Arjun was seen having an intense conversation with his father Sachin, who has been long associated with the franchise, first as a player and now as a mentor. Later, regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who has not been included in the first XI for the match against KKR owing to “stomach bug”, as explained by stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav, joined the conversation with Sachin with the duo trying to motivate the 23-year-old ahead of his debut at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Arjun’s sister, Sara, too was spotted in the stands.

Playing seven first-class matches, Arjun has scored 223 runs in nine innings at an average of 24.77 with a century. He has also taken 12 wickets in the format at an average of 45.58 and an economy rate of 3.42. His best bowling figures in an innings are 3/104.

Whereas, in seven List-A matches, he has scored 25 runs in three innings, with best score of 14*. Arjun also has eight wickets in the format at an average of 32.37 and an economy rate of 4.98. His best bowling figures in the format are 2/32.

Arjun had also impressed everyone with his century in Ranji Trophy debut in December against Rajasthan last year.

Coming to the match, Mumbai Indians stand-in Skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to field first in the Indian Premier League against Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Sunday.

In the absence of MI captain Rohit Sharma, who decided to sit out the match with a stomach bug, Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side on to the field. While Arjun Tendulkar will also makes his IPL debut for MI. KKR made no changes to their playing eleven.

Mumbai Indians would have been boosted with their win in their last fixture against Delhi Capitals. In contrast, Kolkata Knight Riders are coming into this match after losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 23 runs.