Tendulkar, now a professional cricketer, has carved his own identity over the years, and is set to feature for Mumbai Indians in his maiden IPL campaign.

When his father was still an active cricketer, Arjun was regularly seen accompanying Sachin Tendulkar for IPL matches. After one such IPL game, in 2o12, Tendulkar jr managed to get a chance to face the bowling machine on one of the practice pitches of the Wankhede stadium.

Arjun, wearing a customised MI jersey and gloves, entertained the handful of remaining spectators with his aggressive style, swinging the willow with ease to give MI fans early evidence of his batting abilities.

Nine years later, Tendulkar could well be facing up to bowlers of international repute in IPL 2021, after being acquired by Mumbai Indians for his base price.

Tendulkar’s primary role, though, is left-arm pace – he made it to the Mumbai T20 squad in the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, picking up two wickets from as many games. He has also, in the past, played for Marylebone Cricket Club Young Cricketers during the 2019 Second Eleven Championship in the UK.

Here’s a 12-year-old Tendulkar facing the bowling machine in IPL: