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IPL 2023: Arjun Tendulkar was confident he could do it, says Rohit Sharma after MI's win vs SRH

By Shurti Banerjee | Apr 18, 2023 | 2 Min Read

Mumbai Indians’ (MI) captain Rohit Sharma was happy with Arjun Tendulkar’s performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Tuesday, April 18 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. While playing only his second IPL match, the youngster showed his calm and helped Mumbai Indians beat the Sunrisers by 14 runs. MI needed 20 runs to defend in the last over and he did quite well.

The left-armer conceded only five runs and claimed his maiden IPL wicket in the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was caught at extra cover as well. Arjun Tendulkar finished with figures of 2.5-0-18-1 as Mumbai Indians restricted the Orange Army to 178 in 19.5 overs in the IPL 2023. Rohit Sharma, who has now played with both Sachin and Arjun Tendulkar, said that the young pace bowler has tried hard to hone his skills of bowling at the death overs as well.

“It’s quite exiting to play with Arjun. Life has come full circle. Arjun has been part of the squad for the last three years. I have seen him grow. He understands what he wants to do, and he is quite confident he can do it. He is trying to swing the new ball, and bowling yorkers at the death,” Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

While speaking after his maiden IPL wicket, Arjun Tendulkar said that he was well prepared to bowl the final over and also he is ready to do whatever the team requires from him with the ball.

“I love bowling, I am happy to bowl anytime the captain asks me to and just stick to the team plan and give my best,” Arjun Tendulkar said after the game.

Sharing the thought process behind the execution of the final over, he added: “Obviously it was great getting my first IPL wicket. I just had to focus on what was in hand, the plan and executing it. Our plan was just to bowl wide and get the long boundary into play, make the batsman hit it to the longer side.”

While talking about the conversations that he has with his father, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who is also the ‘icon mentor’ for Mumbai Indians, Arjun added: “He (Sachin Tendulkar and him) talk about cricket, we discuss tactics before the game and he tells me to back what I practise every game. I just focused on my release, bowling good lengths and lines upfront. If it swings, it’s a bonus, if it doesn’t, so be it.”