Always had belief in my ability: Arjunafter emulating his father Tendulkar

Panaji: Arjun Tendulkar scored a century on his Ranji Trophy debut with Goa, emulating his father Sachin Tendulkar who kickstarted his career with a First-Class hundred in 1988.

Mumbai-based Arjun, 23, has moved to Goa in search of play time and is among the three professional cricketers that the association has signed for this season. While the two other professionals— Siddhesh Lad and Eknath Kerkar—failed to fire on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy clash against Rajasthan, Tendulkar junior made everyone sit up and take notice with a century.

Batting at No. 7 as a nightwatchman after Goa lost two quick wickets late in the day, Arjun was unbeaten on four off 12 balls overnight. On Wednesday, he turned the match on its head, scoring 120 at the Academy ground in Porvorim.

During his 310-minute stay at the crease, he hit 16 boundaries and two impressive sixes. “I always had belief in my ability, and I knew that if I am set, I could get the big runs. I just had to play the first hour out and then capitalise,” Arjun told TOI.

Arjun’s primary role is that of a fast bowler, but he showed his batting skills, stitching a 221-run partnership with the other overnight batter, Suyash Prabhudesai, who hit 212 for his maiden First-Class double-ton.

“When I first walked out, I had to face most of the balls because Suyash was playing on 80 and my job was to protect him. Today it was just the basics—give the first hour to the bowler. The new ball in the morning gives a little bit (advantage to the bowlers). After we saw out the initial phase, it was time to capitalise and get runs,” said Arjun.

The left-arm pacer has scored centuries in under-14 and under-16 selection games. He also has a 91 against Uttar Pradesh in under-19 cricket but this is a first hundred for the 23-year-old in BCCI games.

Sumiran Amonkar is the only other cricketer to score a century on First-Class debut for Goa.

Goa finished day two on 493 for 8, quite a turnaround after finishing the opening day on 210-5.

While Arjun is certain to grab the headlines, the day also belonged to Suyash who struck a masterful 212 of 416 balls with 29 boundaries.

Suyash was out in the penultimate over, while captain Darshan Misal (33) lost his wicket in the final over as Goa finished the day at 493-8.

Suyash is the seventh Goan cricketer to score a double century, following in the footsteps of Swapnil Asnodkar (3), VB Chandrashekar, Smit Patel, Snehal Kauthankar, Ajay Ratra and Sagun Kamat.