IPL 2020: Arjun Tendulkar training under MI's bowling coach Shane Bond and Zaheer Khan

The defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) were up against the two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 32nd fixture of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Friday (October 16). Mumbai registered a clinical victory against the Knight Riders by 8 wickets.

One thing that caught the attention of viewers during the match was the presence of the ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun Tendulkar in the dugout of the Mumbai-based franchise. Unlike his father, Arjun is a left-arm medium pace bowler and has travelled with MI as their net bowler.

Since the beginning of his cricket career, Arjun has been trained by the best in business including the likes of Atul Gaikwad, Subroto Banerjee, WV Raman and many other veterans. Now, the pacer has been working with the MI unit for the last three months and has been bowling to the players like Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Quinton de Kock at the nets as well.

Arjun Tendulkar is working on his game under the watchful eyes of bowling coach Shane Bond and Director of Cricket Operations Zaheer Khan. A source close to the development revealed that Arjun has been working hard by bowling to the top quality batters in the team. Also, Zaheer and Bond are closely watching the youngster’s bowling action.

“He has been with the team for the last three months as part of the net-bowling team and has been simultaneously working on his game under Zaheer and Bond’s guidance. A very disciplined kid, he is keen to grab as much from not just working under the coaching staff, but also by bowling to the top quality batters in the team,” the source said as quoted by Times Now.

Mumbai Indians campaign in IPL 2020

Mumbai Indians is having a dream run in the 2020 edition of the T20 extravaganza as the franchise is placed at the first position in the table after registering six victories in eight fixtures. In their last outing against KKR, opening batsman Quinton de Kock played a stunning knock of 78* off 44 deliveries including 9 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 177.27 while chasing a target of 149 posted by the opposition on the board.

His partner and captain Rohit Sharma also made a significant contribution by scoring 35 off 36. The all-rounder Hardik Pandya essayed the role of a finisher for his team by smashing 21 off 11 deliveries including 3 fours and 1 six. Thus, Mumbai Indians comfortably chased the below-par total within 17 overs.