PORVORIM: Progressing from a scratchy night-watchman’s start to a confident lower-order batter’s century, Arjun Tendulkar’s knock with the bat on his Ranji Trophy debut has put Goa in a strong position on the second day of the 2022-23 season-opener against Rajasthan at GCA Academy ground, here at Porvorim.
Arjun, who is the son of legendary Sachin Tendulkar, combined with Suyash Prabhudessai when Goa were in a spot of bother at 201/5 on the opening day on Tuesday.
The left-handed Arjun was unbeaten on 4 overnight. The Day 2 started on a scratchy note with Arjun getting a few streaky boundaries. However, he grew in confidence as the day progressed with centurion Suyash at the other end, also seen guiding his young team-mate.
Arjun brought up his half century in 86 balls with a sixer off spinner Shubham Sharma dispatching the ball over the long-off boundary. Arjun and Suyash had a few minor mix-ups while running between the wickets, and a similar yes-no situation eventually saw Arjun completing his maiden century from an over-throw of 178th delivery he faced.
Arjun, who was dropped by wicket-keeper Kunal Singh Rathore off Kamlesh Nagarkoti when on the score of 18, was finally out on 120 off 207 balls, caught and bowled to the same bowler in the 144th over of the Goa inning. His knock comprised 16 boundaries and 2 sixers, and raised a partnership of 221 runs for the sixth wicket. With this display with the bat, Arjun also made the statement that he has batting talent alongside his left-arm pace bowling.
By virtue of his century on debut, Arjun (23) emulated his father Sachin, who aged 15 years had scored a century on Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai in 1988.
