IPL 2021: Sara Tendulkar reacts after her brother Arjun bags a bid from Mumbai Indians in the auction

Arjun Tendulkar, the son of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, was picked in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction at a base price of INR 20 lakhs. And it’s the Mumbai Indians (MI), who secured his services in the T20 tournament. Back in January, he made his debut for Mumbai in the 2021 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy where he played the last two league matches.

In the tournament, he picked up only two wickets. Back in 2018, he made his U19 debut but didn’t play in the 2020 World Cup in South Africa. After he was picked, Sara Tendulkar, his younger sister, lauded him. Sara, on her Instagram story, wrote, “Nobody can take this achievement away from you. It is yours.”

Mahela and Zaheer back Arjun Tendulkar

Mahela Jayawardene, the head coach of the franchise, reckons that Arjun was picked, based on his skills. The former Sri Lankan cricketer also said that though there will be a pressure of surname on Arjun, his father would be proud of him. Jayawardene said that since Arjun is focussed on his career, he’s going to evolve with the passage of time.

“We’ve looked at it purely on a skill basis. I mean, there is going to be a big tag on his head because of Sachin. But, luckily, he’s a bowler, not a batsman. So I think Sachin will be very proud if he could bowl like Arjun,” Jayawardene was quoted as saying.

“I think it’s going to be a learning process for Arjun. He just started playing for Mumbai, and now the franchise. He will learn the ropes; he will evolve. He’s still young. A very focused young man. We have to give him time and hopefully not put a lot of pressure on him either. Just let him evolve and work his way up, and that’s what we’re there to help him to do,” he stated.

Zaheer Khan, MI’s director of cricket operations said that the experience of staying with the franchise will do a world of good to Arjun “He was part of this squad when we went to Abu Dhabi last IPL. So he has spent enough time with us,” Zaheer stated.