There was criticism from certain quarters when Arjun Tendulkar was selected for the India U-19 team. However, like his dad, the maestro Sachin Tendulkar has always done, Arjun too has managed to shut up critics with his on-field exploits.
Arjun Tendulkar, who is a left arm pacer unlike Sachin took a wicket early for his side against Sri Lanka Under-19 in the first Youth Test match which is being held at Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat. Captain Anuj Rawat got Arjun to bowl the first over of the match. And Arjun didn't disappoint his skipper, as he got a wicket of the last ball of his second over. According to reports, Arjun trapped Kamil Mishara in front of the wicket to get his first scalp for India. Mishara is bit of a prodigy, who made his first-class debut at the age of 15. In this match, he had got a brisk start scoring 11 of 9 balls, before Arjun Tendulkar got rid of him.
India U-19 will play 2 Youth tests. This is the first outing for junior Tendulkar and fans will hope that Arjun will continue to make India proud in the future. Arjun Tendulkar had been earlier spotted in Indian nets, bowling to legends. Surely, he will like to bring that experience to play while bowling to the Lankan cricketers.
Earlier Indian bowling coach for U-19, Sanath Kumar had said about Arjun Tendulkar that "he will be like any other member of the team".
A revered coach in domestic circuit, Kumar will guide the fresh batch of India U-19 bowlers including Tendulkar Jr as Paras Mhambrey is on India A duty in England.
Ask him about how he would handle Arjun considering his selection had garnered a lot of attention, Kumar told PTI: "I don't know about that as it's not my area of concern but as a coach, all the boys are equal for me." "For me, Arjun is no different from other kids. My job is to bring the best out of each and every one of them."
With PTI inputs
