Arjun Tendulkar impresses on his debut

Sachin Tendulkar’s 18-year-old son announced his arrival in the international arena with a wicket in his first 12 balls for India U-19, and the significance of the game was not lost on the cricket fraternity. 

The focus was on Arjun’s debut as India’s U-19 team dominated its counterparts from Sri Lanka on the opening day of the first Youth Test at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground. 

Tendulkar junior, whose father made his senior India debut at the age of 16 back in 1989, needed only 12 balls to claim his maiden wicket, trapping Sri Lanka U-19 opener Kamil Mishara. 

Arjun who started the proceedings with the ball for India U19 took the wicket in his second over after trapping Mishara in front of the stumps. The India U19 side then rode on four-wicket hauls from Harsh Tyagi and Ayush Badoni to wrap up Sri Lanka’s first innings for 244. 

Unlike his legendary father, who was widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time, the 18-year-old Arjun is a leftarm pacer and a handy lower-order batsman. He was part of Mumbai’s Under-19 squad in the Cooch Behar Trophy last season.