Arjun Tendulkar made his Indian Premier League debut on Sunday evening, bowling for Mumbai Indians, the team once captained by his father, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
The 23-year-old left-hander was given the new ball in the five-wicket victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Arjun went wicketless in his two overs, giving away 17 runs — his proud father wrote an emotional note on social media.
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“Arjun today you have taken another important step in your journey as a cricketer,” Tendulkar tweeted.
“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.”
Tendulkar added: “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!”
The youngster joined five-time IPL winners Mumbai in 2021 — making his T20 debut for the state 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 India, began his career with Mumbai state’s junior team before being picked for the senior side at the age of 15.
He won his first cap for India in 1989 before going on to become the highest Test scorer of all time as well as the first player to score 100 international centuries. He retired in 2013.
The Tendulkars became the first father-son duo to play in the IPL, which began in 2008.
‘BIT OF REVENGE’ FOR HETMYER
West Indies powerhouse Shimron Hetmyer’s batting onslaught lit up the IPL on Sunday as he fired the Rajasthan Royals to a stunning three-wicket win over reigning champions the Gujarat Titans.
Hetmyer’s unbeaten 26-ball 56 steered Rajasthan to the victory, set up by skipper Sanju Samson, who hit 60 off 32 balls.
“I just really wanted to win against these guys because they beat us three times last year so it was a bit of revenge really,” Player of the Match Hetmyer said.
Chasing 178 for victory, Rajasthan were in trouble at 4-55 when Samson and the left-handed Hetmyer turned on the chase at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
Samson took on leg-spinner Rashid Khan in an over and smashed a hat-trick of sixes and then targeted another Afghanistan spinner before departing.
Noor Ahmad, a left-arm wrist spinner, came in as impact player for Gujarat — after getting smashed for a six and four, he got Samson caught out.
But the dismissal only fired up the left-handed Hetmyer who kept up the charge as he and Dhruv Jurel, who hit 18 (10), got 20 runs from an Alzarri Joseph over to near the target.
Hetmyer finished off the chase with a six off Ahmad, an IPL debutant who was given the final over by Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya.
Mohammed Shami stood out with figures of 3-25 for Gujarat, who won the title last year in their fairytale debut IPL season.
Earlier, Shubman Gill (45) and David Miller (46) guided Gujarat to 7-177 after being invited to bat first. Australian spinner Adam Zampa claimed 1-32 from four overs for the Royals.
SURYAKUMAR’S TIMELY RETURN TO FORM
In the afternoon match, Venkatesh Iyer hit his maiden T20 century to guide the Kolkata Knight Riders to 6-185, but five-time winners the Mumbai Indians overhauled the total with 14 balls to spare at Wankhede Stadium.
Iyer’s knock was the first ton for two-time champions Kolkata since former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum smashed 158 runs in the first ever IPL match in 2008.
Mumbai opener Ishan Kishan blasted 58 off 25 balls, but it was T20 sensation Suryakumar Yadav’s quickfire 43 that brought the home crowd to life, as he looked like returning to form after a rough patch.
“I relaxed and had an easy walk to the wicket, took my time for the first 6-7 balls,” Suryakumar said.
“And then I thought if I get my eye in I can take it forward.”
The left-handed Kishan gave Mumbai a flying start in a 65-run opening stand with Rohit, who made 20 off 13 balls.
Kishan was bowled by leg spinner Varun Chakravarthy but Suryakumar, who got a first-ball duck in the previous match, soon took charge to smash three sixes in his 25-ball blitz.
Shardul Thakur denied Suryakumar his fifty, before Australian T20 powerhouse Tim David steered the chase with an unbeaten 24.
Mumbai started by handing debut caps to Arjun and South Africa fast bowler Duan Jansen, twin brother of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Marco Jansen.
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green claimed a wicket and scored one not out in the run chase.