Arjun Tendulkar played his first game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season for Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last league game today (May 17). MI are already out of the league, and they came to the game with the hope of not finishing with a wooden spoon in their mouth. With just four wins in 13 games, they are tenth in the points table.
After a slow start, Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) innings received much-needed impetus from Nicholas Pooran, who was already batting at 43* off 17 deliveries with five sixes and two fours. He had already taken Hardik Pandya's 14th over for 15 runs, and with the death overs knocking, Tendulkar’s 15th over was always going to be targeted.
Tendulkar erred under pressure and bowled two consecutive full tosses, which were supposed to be two yorkers in the block hole. Pooran had to just swipe through the line, and swipe he did because the next two shots were proper biggies.
After that, to his dimsay, Tendulkar had to leave the field due to an injury. He was seen entering the dugout dejectedly and then sunk himself into one of the seats. Some support staff surrounded the southpaw immediately after that, and Rohit Sharma came in as a substitute fielder with a slight smile.
No official information was conveyed to the broadcasters about Tendulkar's injury. Naman Dhir completed that over for MI, and Pooran continued on his merry way, scoring two more sixes and a four. Even the sedate KL Rahul joined the party with a six on the last ball.
That over cost MI 29 runs and ensured that KL’s side crossed 200. Even after the innings, no updates were given about the reason for Tendulkar’s removal from the field.
The 24-year-old has bowled 12.1 overs in the IPL and has three wickets at an average of 38 and an economy of 9.4.