The IPL 2021 auction took place in Chennai on February 18 and cricketer Arjun Tendulkar went to the Mumbai Indians franchise which is the same team his father Sachin played for before his retirement.
According to NDTV, the 21-year-old left-handed batsman and fast bowler was the last to come up in the auction and Mumbai Indians were the only team to bid at the base price of ₹20 lakhs.
Cricket in his blood. Refined in the nets. Now ready to take the 22-yards by storm 💙
Welcome home, Arjun Tendulkar!#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/jncjVF64Lh
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 18, 2021
This development has triggered a debate among cricket fans who are questioning whether the bid was based on nepotism or merit as in the two T20s that Arjun played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Mumbai, he picked up two wickets and scored only three runs.
MI bidding for Arjun Tendulkar for sake of Sachin is so sad . That 20L bid would have changed the life of some other struggling talented domestic player . Now we gotta bear nepotism in cricket as well .🤢
— Palak (@pk_jain307) February 18, 2021
Kedar Devdhar was the top scorer in SMAT 20/21 and at 31 he remained unsold. Arjun Tendulkar hardly got into the Mumbai domestic side but dramatically was the last name and was sold. Don't wanna pinpoint him or say anything on nepotism though, wishing him the best. #IPLAuction
— Yash Prasad (@imYash07) February 18, 2021
I agree we need to give Arjun Tendulkar a chance. BUT, if it is not for his famous father, would he have been in the pool in the 1st place? That, to me, is #Nepotism.
— Sathya (@reachjs) February 19, 2021
Mumbai Indians to all other teams while bidding for Arjun Tendulkar. #IPL2021Auction pic.twitter.com/Tw3rJQ6fOv
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 18, 2021
Other uncapped players who unsold in auction to Arjun Tendulkar :
#IPL2021Auction pic.twitter.com/TmH532y7lG
— $ H I L ग न (@ShilganMeshram3) February 18, 2021
Mumbai Indians fans when MI management clearly show nepotism and select Arjun Tendulkar :#arjuntendulkar#IPL2021Auction pic.twitter.com/9xtrT8sWUK
— Biolistic07 (@biolistic07) February 18, 2021
#IPLAuction
When arjun Tendulkar's name came in list
Le all team selectors :- pic.twitter.com/1KEwANkov6— Sudhanshu Kumar Mayank (@imskmayank) February 18, 2021
Arjun Tendulkar sold to MI. One of the biggest examples of nepotism in recent times. Not saying it is bad but just saying #IPLAuction2021 #IPL2021Auction
— sumanto chatterjee (@sumanto120688) February 18, 2021
Arjun tendulkar pick = ews quota
— Otis Milburn (@The_SuperOne) February 18, 2021
Many Big & Talented Players went Unsold, But
Nepotism Kid "Arjun Tendulkar" Is Bought By Ambani.
Raja ka Beta, Raja He Banega .#IPLAuction2021 #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/hyNVryOwI3
— Aijaz ahmad dar (@aijazah_dar) February 18, 2021
Arjun Tendulkar comes to an auction
Meanwhile MI : pic.twitter.com/X8JhOoyuw5
— unseenRAHUL (@WohiRahulHuu) February 18, 2021
20 lakhs for the surname?
Here r few names & their track in 2019-20 Ranji,at whose cost this happened.
Ramsingh Sanjay Kumar-9 mat,55wkt
Diwesh Pathania-9 mat,50wkt
MB Murasingh-9 mat,49wkt
Ashutosh Aman-9 mat,49wkt
What’s missing in their names is a reputed surname,well done MI— It’s him in me (@AshwinD75809659) February 18, 2021
Mumbai Indians to other teams in IPL: Koshish bhi mat karna pic.twitter.com/cWLblh4ten
— Joseph Diniz (@JosephDiniz187) February 18, 2021
Arjun Tendulkar selected by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2021.
Entire Universe :#IPL2021Auction #ArjunTendulkar #Nepotism pic.twitter.com/HNQcwmcwXP
— Bhondumemer (@bhondumemer) February 18, 2021
Following the discussion online, Times Now News quoted head coach Mahela Jayawardene saying,
“We’ve looked at it purely on a skill basis. I mean, there is going to be a big tag on his head because of Sachin. But, luckily, he’s a bowler, not a batsman. So I think Sachin will be very proud if he could bowl like Arjun. I think it’s going to be a learning process for Arjun. He just started playing for Mumbai, and now the franchise. He will learn the ropes; he will evolve. He’s still young. A very focused young man. We have to give him time and hopefully not put a lot of pressure on him either. Just let him evolve and work his way up, and that’s what we’re there to help him to do.”
Director of Cricket Operations Zaheer Khan added, “I have spent a lot of time in the nets, trying to teach him a few tricks of the trade. He is a hard-working kid. He is keen on learning. That is an exciting part. The added pressure of being Sachin Tendulkar’s son will always be on him. It is something he needs to live with. The environment of the team will help him.”
But there are also those who believe that the trolling he is facing is unnecessary and he should be given time to prove his mettle on the cricket pitch.
I feel I should say this about #Arjun_Tendulkar. We frequent the same gym & I’ve seen how hard he works on his fitness, seen his focus to be a better cricketer. To throw the word ‘nepotism’ at him is unfair & cruel. Don’t murder his enthusiasm & weigh him down before he’s begun.
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) February 20, 2021
Leave the fucking kid alone.
Like most kids he idolises and wants to be his father. Everyone uses the privilege life hands them,so stop pointing fingers and comparing.
This mentality of ganging up on someone is toxic and accomplishes nothing. #arjuntendulkar #Nepotism pic.twitter.com/Mt9eujelMk
— Ashish (@iashu10) February 18, 2021
So many jokes and memes on #arjuntendulkar and that kid hasn't even started playing in front of the world. We are perpetual hunters for anyone with a famous surname. Let him breathe.
— Srishti Kaul (@mysticsrishti) February 19, 2021
@Arjuntendulkar perform this Season make ur name and Give a tight slap to trollers who are saying u r here by the help of ur father
— @kash verma (@AkashVe47460601) February 18, 2021
cricket hai nahi khelega toh drop ho jaega
Movie hoti toh 10 flop ke baad 11 bhi ban jaati 😹😹😹
— Abhishek singh (@killerpro0751) February 20, 2021
If Arjun Tendulkar were a product of nepotism he would be a top order batsman not a fast bowler. Whole career Sachin saw how India struggled without quality fast bowler so he produced one. Dedicating life not generations to nation.
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) February 18, 2021
Nepotism can work in Bollywood where trash is bought sold watched. Not in sports where you need to perform else you’d end up like Rohan Gavaskar or Binny who serves water & whose wife is Justin Langar’s sister. If Arjun is talented & has blessings of Lt Col Dhoni, he’d sustain
— Ra_Bies 2.0 (@Ra_Bies) February 19, 2021
Every player is under the scanner at the IPL. It's inevitable. But since everyone will scream nepotism, the person under the most pressure will be Arjun Tendulkar. First, he has to get into the playing XI, and if he does, he'll be under greater scrutiny than his father ever was.
— Sachin Kalbag (@SachinKalbag) February 18, 2021
Do you believe that there is favouritism involved or would it be better to discuss his performance once he has had a chance to play in the IPL?