Tendulkar Jr. makes his cricket debut

Arjun Tendulkar, son of the cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, is participating in his first nationwide cricket tournament these days.

The 10-year old Tendulkar is representing MIG Cricket Club at the Under-13 Cadence Trophy in Pune, which has clubs from across India taking part. Seems like no Tendulkar - senior or junior - can be given a miss.

Up against Cadence Cricket Academy, MIG fielded first only to be left hiding for cover. Arjun fielded at the deep square leg for most of the time.

Soon it was time to wield the willow. Playing in his first match of the nationwide cricket tournament, Arjun opened the batting but preferred to be at the non-striker's end. He got strike in the second over and flashed across at a ball that he completely missed. The next one, however, gave the Jr. Tendulkar his first run. A shot played with a straight bat and the use of bottom hand showed a glimpse of his legendary father's style.

However, Arjun's stay at the center couldn't last long as a miscommunication with his partner resulted in confusion and thus his dismissal, as he fell short of the crease. He was clearly dejected on not being able to contribute much to the team. His team finally lost the match.

Chandu Bhatkar and Jagdish Chavan are the two people who have been assigned the job of getting Arjun's basics of the game clear. He has been under their guidance for the past 5 months training at MIG Club in Kalanagar.

Arjun's mother, Anjali Tendulkar, was there to watch her son play while her husband was celebrating his 44th hundred in the first Test against Bangladesh. Anjali was clearly disappointed but cajoled her son who looked upset.

Well, what is more important here is not his first match on the national level but his first step into the real cricketing arena, a place where his father has left behind one and all.

We can only hope that Tendulkar Jr. comes as good as his father to represent the country and reduces the pain of missing Sachin a few years down the line, for the legend is irreplaceable.