Arjun Tendulkar picked in Mumbai u-16 team after all-round Payyade show

FOLLOWING HIS all-round heroics in the Payyade Trophy, Arjun Tendulkar has been called up to the Mumbai Under-16 squad for the Vijay Merchant Trophy encounter against Baroda.

Son of retired batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, Arjun was previously part of the Mumbai Under-14 side. He will now feature as an all-rounder in the 15-member squad against Baroda. 

Just yesterday, Arjun was in the news for his swasbuckling hundred and later, a four-wicket haul for his side, Sunil Gavaskar XI against Rohit Sharma XI at the Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana. Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) joint secretary PV Shetty said that the selectors picked him on the basis of his recent performance in the Payyade Trophy, which was also a selection trial for the Under-16s.

“He did well in the selection trials as well as the Kanga league. The selectors have picked him as an all-rounder,” Shetty said, according to a report published in The Indian Express.

Being the son of a famous cricketer has its own perks, but it also brings enormous pressure. For Arjun, it's all about enjoying the moment, says retired Indian speedster Zaheer Khan, who has seen Arjun bowl in the nets occasionally. 

“He is working hard. He is good with bat and ball. I’m told that he scored his first century this week. The pressure will be there but ultimately what he can do on the field will matter most,” he said.

However, Zak was also of the opinion that age is never really a factor when it comes to judging a cricketer's talent. 

“If someone is good enough and performing well, then they should use this platform to judge them. As a youngster you should use this platform to get noticed,” he explained.

Luckily, for Zak, he wasn't a part of an Under-16 team and directly made his way to Baroda's senior domestic team before going on to play for the Indian team.