Arjun Tendulkar emulated his illustrious father Sachin Tendulkar when he hit a century on Ranji Trophy debut on Wednesday in Porvorim. This was also Arjun's first-class debut, for Goa, following a decent white-ball season for his new team.
Sachin had scored his maiden first-class century on debut for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in 1988, against Gujarat, as a 15-year-old. Thirty-four years later, Arjun, a fast-bowling allrounder, hit 120 off 207 balls on day two of Goa's Ranji opener against Rajasthan.
Unbeaten on 4 overnight, having walked in with the score on 201 for 5, Arjun stitched together a 221-run partnership with the other overnight batter Suyash Prabhudessai, who hit 212 off 416 balls.
At stumps, Goa had racked up 493 for 8 in 163.2 overs against a bowling attack that had the likes of Aniket Choudhary and Kamlesh Nagarkoti in their ranks.
Arjun had moved to Goa from Mumbai at the start of the season in search of more game time. Prior to the season, he had featured in just two T20s for Mumbai.
Arjun had a decent white-ball season. At the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, he picked up ten wickets in seven matches with an impressive economy rate of 5.69. He was Goa's second highest wicket-taker in the tournament behind Lakshay Garg. Arjun also played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he was Goa's leading wicket-taker, returning seven wickets in eight outings at an average of 32.37 and an economy rate of 4.98.
Arjun is part of Mumbai Indians in the IPL but is yet to feature in a game for them.