Arjun Tendulkar, son of former India captain and legendary batter, Sachin Tendulkar, scored a fantastic century on his Ranji Trophy debut game for Goa against Rajasthan on December 14 (Wednesday). Upon reaching the magical three-figure mark, Arjun matched the feat of his father, who 34 years ago in 1988 scored a brilliant hundred on debut against Gujarat while playing for Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium.
Arjun, who came into bat at No.7 with Goa tottering at 201/5, stitched a remarkable 221 partnership with Suyash S Prabhudessai (212) en route to recording his maiden century in India's premier domestic tournament. Arjun played a terrific knock of 120 runs off 207 balls with the help of 16 fours and two sixes before getting dismissed by Kamlesh Nagarkoti.
The 22-year-old Arjun was a part of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for the league stages of the 2021-22 season but did not make it to the knockouts squad. However, given the quality of talent available in Mumbai, the youngster could not make it to the XI at any stage. Thus, in search of some much-needed game time, Arjun made a switch to Goa earlier in the year, a piece of news his father Sachin revealed himself.
Arjun also got in touch with legendary Indian batter Yuvraj Singh's father, Yograj Singh, whose inputs seem to have worked wonders. During a chat with The Indian Express, Yograj revealed what he said to Arjun when his son Yuvraj asked to coach him for a few days.
"In the first week of September, I got a call from Yuvi (Yuvraj), saying, ‘Dad, Arjun will be in Chandigarh for two weeks and Sachin has requested if you have time to train him’. How could I have said no to Sachin, he is like my elder son. But I had one condition. I told Yuvi, ‘You know my way of training and I don’t want anyone to intervene’," Yograj said.
"I had told him that he must forget he is Sachin Tendulkar’s son for the next 15 days. I feel he was mollycoddled by coaches because he is Tendulkar’s son. I told him that he needs to get out of his father’s shadow," he added said.
Arjun also took the new ball for Goa but conceded 29 runs in the first four overs of his spell.
