Their fathers were bonafide legends of the game, and so, all eyes are on them every time they take the field.
Arjun Tendulkar and Samit Dravid are no strangers to pressure that comes with two of the most famous surnames in world cricket, and have been trying to make their mark in domestic cricket slowly but surely.
The two youngsters came face-to-face at the ongoing Dr K. Thimmappiah Memorial Tournament in Bengaluru on September 22. The 25-year-old Arjun was representing Goa while Samit, 19, was playing for KSCA Secretary’s XI.
Left-arm pacer Arjun had removed skipper Nikin Jose for an eight-ball duck. Samit walked in at number 5, with KSCA XI struggling at 91/3, and scored five runs in 23 balls.
Arjun returned, looking for a breakthrough. Samit hit a four off Arjun’s first delivery he faced. Next was a dot ball. But, Tendulkar jr had the last laugh as he dismissed Dravid jr off the third delivery, getting him caught out by Kashab Bakle for nine.
At stumps, the KSCA XI were 245 for eight, with Arjun being the pick of the Goa bowlers, taking 3/50 in 17 overs. Goa scored 338 in their first innings, with Samit chipping in with figures of 2/18 in nine overs.
Arjun joined Goa for the 2022-23 domestic season, leaving his home team Mumbai to gain more playing time. In 17 first-class matches for Goa, he scored 532 runs and took 37 wickets.
Samit, on the other hand, missed the cut for the U-19 World Cup to be held next year. He was recently named in Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy probables for the upcoming season after missing the end of last year with an injury.
The Dr K. Thimmappiah Memorial Tournament kickstarts the red-ball cricketing season in Karnataka. It follows a four-day format, and KSCA fields four teams — President’s XI, Secretary’s XI, KSCA XI, and Colts XI.