'Life has come a full circle' - Rohit Sharma on experience of playing with Arjun Tendulkar

Arjun Tendulkar's effort during his team's triumph over the Sunrisers Hyderabad, on April 18, Tuesday, was praised by Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma, who said the medium pacer bowls with clarity of thought. Arjun, in just his second IPL game, was handed the responsibility to defend 20 runs in the final over, and he executed the strategies brilliantly to lead MI to a 14-run victory.

SRH were eight down and had to chase the target with just two wickets to spare while entering the ultimate over. Abdul Samad was run out on the second delivery which mounted pressure on Mayank Markande and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the last men standing. But Arjun managed to dismiss Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the fifth delivery and put curtains on SRH’s innings.

During the post-match presentation, Rohit, the winning captain, opened up about playing with Arjun and his experience of having shared the dressing room with the father-son duo. Rohit has been a part of the Mumbai Indians since 2011 and has played with Sachin Tendulkar in the Indian team as well as in the IPL franchise and is now currently playing with Arjun Tendulkar.

“It's quite exciting to play with Arjun. Life has come a full circle. Arjun has been a part of this team for three years. He understands what he wants to do. He is quite confident as well. He is clear in his plans. He is trying to swing the new ball and bowl yorkers at the death,” Rohit said.

Mumbai Indians, after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad, clinched their third consecutive victory of the ongoing tournament. Having lost their first two games against the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Chennai Super Kings, they got back to winning ways after defeating the struggling Delhi Capitals, and followed it with wins over Kolkata Knight Riders and SRH.

I am happy to bowl anytime the captain asks me to: Arjun

The victories over KKR and SRH might surely have been special for Arjun as he made his IPL debut against the former, and picked his maiden IPL wicket against the latter. Speaking of the feeling of picking the first ever IPL wicket, Arjun said:

“Obviously, it was great getting my first IPL wicket. I just had to focus on what was in hand, the plan, and executing it. Our plan was just to bowl wide and get the long boundary into play, make the batter hit it to the longer side. I love bowling, I am happy to bowl anytime the captain asks me to and just stick to the team plan and give my best.”

“I just focused on my release, bowling good lengths and lines upfront. If it swings, it's a bonus, if it doesn't, so be it. We (Sachin and him) talk about cricket, we discuss tactics before the game and he tells me to back what I practice every game,” he added while speaking of his talks with father Sachin Tendulkar.