Sunday was not only the day Arjun Tendulkar made his IPL debut, it was also the ‘debut’ of his father Sachin Tendulkar, because it was the first time that the former India captain had gone to watch his son play a competitive game of cricket.
However, Sachin, mentor to the Mumbai Indians, did not want Arjun to be distracted on his debut day and so he sat in the dressing room instead of the team dugout.
“This was a new experience for me because till now I have not actually gone and watched him play. I wanted him to have the freedom to go out and express himself, and do whatever he wanted to,” Sachin said after the game.
“...also I sat in dressing room as I didn’t want him (Arjun) to move away from his plans and start looking at mega screen and suddenly realise that I am watching him, so I was inside.”
Arjun, a left-arm seamer, got to bowl two overs and conceded 17 runs while impressing with his swing.
Sachin also posted a message for Arjun on Twitter. “Arjun, today (Sunday) you have taken another important step in your journey as a cricketer. As your father, someone who loves you and is passionate about the game, I know you will continue to give the game the respect it deserves and the game will love you back.
“You have worked very hard to reach here, and I am sure you will continue to do so. This is the start of a beautiful journey. All the best!” wrote the icon.
Sachin and Arjun became the first father and son pair to play in the IPL, that too for the same team.
“Different feeling because 2008 was first season for me and 16 (15) years down the line, he plays for the same team, not bad,” Sachin said describing the moment.
Different stars boon for Royals
Ahmedabad: Different players standing up at different times has been the positive aspect of Rajasthan Royals’ “hungry” batting unit, pace spearhead Trent Boult said, after they topped the IPL table on Sunday.
Down two wickets for just 4 runs in the third over, the Royals riding fightbacks from captain Sanju Samson (60) and Shimron Hetmyer (56 not out) beat Gujarat Titans by three wickets on Sunday. The Titans had got the better of them all three times, including the final, last year.
“We got some very talented batters in our side and I think the real positive is seeing guys stand up at different times. It’s different guys standing up at different times,” Boult said at the post-match press conference.
PTI
