Legendary Sachin Tendulkar has reacted to son Arjun scoring a century on his Ranji Trophy debut for Goa against Rajasthan. Tendulkar recalled what his father had said when he had scored a century in international cricket and called it the proudest moment of his life.
“It is a tough question. Nobody has asked me (laughs). As a father I remember hearing my father tell someone. This was just when I had started playing for India. Someone said Sachin's father (introducing Ramesh Tendulkar). Then my father's friend asked him "how do you feel?" He said "it is the proudest moment of my life because this is what fathers want their children to be. To get recongnised by what your child has done," Tendulkar said at an Infosys event.
“Arjun has not led a normal childhood. Being a son of cricketer who has been around for quite sometime, it is not so easy. and that's the only reason I had retired and was felicitated by the media in Mumbai, my message to them (fans and media) was to allow Arjun to fall in love with cricket, give him that opportunity. You can follow up various statements after he has performed. Don't try and put that pressure on him because I never had that pressure on my parents. They gave me the freedom to go out and express myself. There was no pressure of expectations. It was all the way only encouragement, support and how could we go out and better ourselves. That is what I wanted him to do. I kept telling him that it is going to be challenging,” the 49-year-old added.
Tendulkar also revealed his chat with Arjun the day before he notched up his debut hundred.
“I did tell him (to go for 100). He was batting on 4 not out, he was sent as a nightwatchman. He asked, ‘what do you think would be a good total?’ They were 210/5 down. I said, 'at least 375 is what you need to get to'. And he said, 'are you sure?' I replied, 'yeah. you need to go out and get a hundred. Do you believe you can go out and get a 100?'” Tendulkar revealed.
Arjun scored 120 runs from 207 deliveries. The southpaw's maiden Ranji ton was studded with 16 fours and two sixes.
“As of the approach today, it was more about the basics. Just give first hour to the bowlers. After we grit the initial phase out, it’s time to capitalise. And time to get runs. As I said, it was the new ball and the new ball would do something. I honestly don’t care how I look, I gritted the first difficult phase out and then I cashed in,” Arjun told the reporters after equalling his father’s feat.
