Mumbai Indians on Sunday handed over debut to Arjun Tendulkar, after stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bowl against Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League match at Wankhede stadium. Arjun would replace Arshad Khan in the playing XI.
Arjun was first bought by MI at the IPL 2021 auction at his base price of Rs 20 lakh. He was roped in once again in 2022 for Rs 30 lakhs and retained for 2023. A year later he attracted two bidders with Gujarat Titans too having raised the paddle before he returned to MI for a price of INR 30 lakhs.
In Rohit’s absence, Suryakumar Yadav will be captaining MI in their second home game of the season. MIs regular skipper Rohit Sharma misses out due to a stomach bug.
The left-arm medium fast pacer, son of former MI captain Sachin Tendulkar, will play his first IPL game at the same venue where Tendulkar played his last international match against West Indies back in 2013.
Ahead of the toss, Arjun was seen having an intense conversation with his father Sachin, who has been long associated with the franchise, first as a player and now as a mentor.
Mumbai come into the match on Sunday on the back of a win, their first this year, against Delhi Capitals after being handed back to back defeats by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings. On the contrary KKR comes after losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad at home.