Cricket world erupts as Sachin Tendulkar's son makes IPL history

The IPL has enjoyed a touch of cricket royalty over the weekend, with Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun Tendulkar making his debut in the T20 league. It marked the first time the league, which was founded in 2008, has seen a father and son compete.

The elder Tendulkar was by far the highest-paid player when he was signed for the Mumbai Indians in 2008, with his son taking the new ball for the Indians in their win over the Kolkata Knight Riders. Unfortunately for Arjun his debut was somewhat underwhelming, going wicketless for 17 runs over four overs.

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That didn't wipe one iota of pride from his father, who proudly took to social media to express his happiness at seeing his son take his own steps into the cricket world. The 23-year-old had joined the Indians in 2021, but didn't make his IPL debut until their win over Kolkata.

“Arjun today you have taken another important step in your journey as a cricketer,” Tendulkar wrote on his Twitter page. “As your father, someone who loves you and is passionate about the game, I know you will continue to give the game the respect it deserves and the game will love you back.

“You have worked very hard to reach here, and I am sure you will continue to do so. This is the start of a beautiful journey. All the best!”

Arjun made his first class debut for Goa in 2022, playing seven games after shifting from Mumbai earlier in the year. He looms as a potential all-rounder for India, with 12 first class wickets and 223 runs in those games, including a high score of 120.

The Indians did enough to overcome a century from Kolkata's Venkatesh Iyer, who clobbered 101 from just 54 deliveries to score just the second hundred in Knight Riders history. Top T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav had only scored 16 runs over his last six white-ball innings, but came alive for Mumbai to help them beyond Kolkata's target of 185.

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Iyer reached 50 off only 23 balls and continued his charge even as the other Kolkata batsmen struggled to get going. Andre Russell's 21 not out was the second highest score of the innings.

Iyer scored 50 more runs off 26 balls to reach his first IPL hundred off 49 balls. It was the second century of the IPL season after Sunrisers Hyderabad's Harry Brook against Kolkata on Friday.

Iyer broke a long-standing Kolkata record, though, becoming only the second batter after Brendon McCullum to score a century for the franchise in 16 years of competition. McCullum had scored his hundred on IPL's opening night back in 2008, hitting 158 not out off 73 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

In reply, Mumbai got a quick start as Rohit Sharma came out to bat. He scored 20 off 13 balls and put on 65 off 29 balls with Ishan Kishan. Also finding his footing, Kishan smacked 58 off 25, including five fours and five sixes.

Thanks to their opening stand, Mumbai stayed ahead of the curve but wrist spinner Suyash Sharma took 2-27 in four overs, including Sharma's wicket, with the score now 87-2. Yadav and in-form Tilak Varma didn't let the momentum die out. They added 60 off 38 balls for the third wicket, hitting four sixes and seven fours.

With AAP

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