Ajit John
ajit@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Arjun Tendulkar, the young bowler who sparked a major collapse for Arunachal Pradesh in their first innings, reflected on his journey and his new life in Goa after the match.
On the opening day, Arjun’s superb spell helped bowl out Arunachal for a mere 84, giving him an impressive five-wicket haul in the first innings. While he didn’t claim any wickets in the second, his disciplined bowling kept the pressure on.
The son of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Arjun’s move to Goa has drawn significant attention. “Goa is treating me well; I love the food and I’m enjoying living here,” he said in a post-match chat. “It feels meaningful to be here, especially with my family’s roots in Goa. In terms of cricket, it’s been great to get playing time.”
Reflecting on his second innings performance, where he went wicketless, Arjun said, “Bowling in the right areas is within my control, but getting wickets isn’t always up to me. My focus is just to bowl where I want and that’s what counts.”
When asked about living with the constant shadow of his father’s legacy, Arjun remained unfazed. “I don’t see it as a shadow. I live life normally and when I’m on the pitch, I just give my best and focus on the game,” he explained.
Looking ahead to Goa’s upcoming limited-overs tournament, Arjun showed no nerves about facing a strong Mumbai side. “There’s no reason why we can’t beat Mumbai if we play good cricket. We don’t need to be scared of anyone,” he said confidently.
As for his future, Arjun was pragmatic. “I’m just focused on enjoying the game, putting the ball in the right areas, and connecting with the bat when I can. I don’t see much beyond that,” he said. When asked about aiming for the Indian team, he responded, “If it happens, so be it; if not, I’ll still enjoy the game.”