Yashasvi Bhava - “Arjun” Tendulkar!
Visualise being a successor to the most successful batter the sport of cricket has ever seen, the one given the title of “god” by the lovers of the game but in India more likely, “devotees” as most recognise the game as a religion. From spiking the “LCD” television sales to the smashing into smithereens of hundreds and thousands of tv sets, so was the impact of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
April 16, 2023. The son of one of India’s most prodigal sons makes his IPL debut for the Mumbai Indians. All eyes are on him as he takes up the new ball bowling the first over in the power play, which is often a kamikaze zone for the bowlers as batters look to charge and give their teams a head start. Full of nerves, carrying such an enormous name on his shoulders
the Southpaw seamer doing what left-arm seamers do the best against right-handed batsmen, let the bowl shape into the right-hander using the lacquer to the best of its advantage. Pretty decent we must say when everybody already pre-conceptualises you by your name.
Another game, only his second match for the Mumbai Indians side they play the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The skipper Rohit Sharma ran out of options handing the ball to the youngster who had a chance to prove his skill at defending 20 runs. He gets his first wicket in the form of Bhuvenashwar Kumar which is also a very interesting stat at the same venue, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, is the only bowler to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar for a duck in Ranji Trophy. Arjun Tendulkar dismissed Bhuvneshwar as his first IPL wicket. And interestingly, both instances have come at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Uppal in Hyderabad, 14 years apart!
The rookie kept his nerve conceding only 5 runs letting the Indians sail for a comfortable 14-run victory.
The 22-year-old, Being around for years he could have gotten into most sides in the domestic circuit using the mightiness his last name carries, yet we didn’t see the likes of him representing India under 19 or even the Mumbai Ranji team. Arjun could’ve warmed the bench being around the Mumbai domestic set-up and waited for his chance or could make the best of his peak years learning what actual game practice competing could teach him, he made a call to represent the Goa side.
Sachin’s retirement is like a registered episode in the minds of Indian cricket fanatics as we recall Sachin batting the way he batted nearing a possible ton, his bowing down on the Wankhede Stadiums middle strip and his iconic farewell speech that got us all in our feels as we went down a trip down the memory lane living the legends of the little blaster even shedding a tear or two.
where was Arjun Tendulkar when his father was the most important man to a nation of over a billion people?
logic says possibly in a hospitality VIP air-conditioned stand but the reality is quite contrasting, the 13 old was out there in the sun, sitting at the periphery of the turf with the other ball boys camouflaging in his all whites just like all the other passionate kids who wanted to grow up and become a cricketer.
Jalandhar was famous for its sporting manufacturers, and prominent bat manufacturing companies like “BAS” are placed here. Professional Cricket gear costs you thousands of rupees which includes everything a pro cricketing athlete might require with its replacements. Yes, cricketers don’t carry just 1 bat with them, they always approximately have 6-7 bats on them for a domestic season or a tour each costing lakhs of rupees. The same manufacturers Sachin got his perfectly manicured cricket blades from. Arjun and his junior Mumbai teammate both were trying and seeking sponsorships from these manufacturing giants, both visited the manufacturer and sat down on a mat on the floor, waiting to speak to the man in charge, Arjun’s friend had just got his cricket kit as the manufacturer asked his friend “is he your friend?” to which Arjun’s friend replied, “He’s Arjun Tendulkar”. The manufacturer was completely shaken up by the simplicity and humbleness he saw of the young man. With such luxury that Arjun Tendulkar might have, cricketing gear and goods, getting his hands on them should possibly be a breeze for him. Why would he still want to earn his cricket kit speaks a lot about how he and Sachin wanted him to always come out of the system with Arjun making his own space through his hardship and not his family name.
Revisiting the Mahabharat, when Lord Krishna finishes enlightening Arjuna almost about to set his feet on the battleground, Lord Krishna could’ve just told him “Vijayi Bhava” which translates to “be victorious” He told Arjuna “Yashasvi Bhava” eternal success or fame for eternity, telling him if he fights like a true warrior and respects his learnings he’ll be remembered eternally.
Sachin, Arjun’s father had a message for his beloved son "Arjun, you have completed yet another significant step in your cricketing career today, I know you will continue to give the game the respect it deserves and the game will love you back as someone who loves you and is as passionate about the game as your father," he wrote.
"You've put in a lot of effort to get here, and I'm sure you'll keep doing so. The beautiful journey begins here. All the best," he added.
Whenever Sachin is asked about Arjun, he’s always emphasised the fact that there is no substitute for hard work and respecting the game for it to respect you back are some things he has always mentioned. Sachin has a lot of material things for Arjun to inherit, still for him to always be grounded and put in the effort for him to be a pro cricketer is something that cannot be valued in gold.
We cannot say where Arjun’s career might head and what he might achieve, but if he continues to respect the game, even half of what his father did, he’ll make a sincere champion!
