A FEW months ago, a video clip made the rounds of Yograj Singh, the former fast bowler, actor and coach, trying to get his new cricket trainee to dance the bhangra. On Wednesday, Yograj, the father of former Indian star Yuvraj Singh, texted that young trainee from the UK where he is filming. The essence: “Well beaten son. One day you will be a great all-rounder. Mark my words.”
That intern was none other than 23-year-old Arjun Tendulkar, the son of Sachin Tendulkar. And Yograj’s message was for a unique milestone. Playing for Goa at Porvorim, Arjun had scored a century on his Ranji Trophy debut – just like his father all the way back in 1988.
Yograj is known for being an extremely hard taskmaster while training his own son Yuvraj to become an international cricketer. Yograj says he received an unexpected request in September.
“In the first week of September, I received a call from Yuvi (Yuvraj) who said, ‘Dad, Arjun will be in Chandigarh for two weeks and Sachin has asked if you have time to train him’. How could I have said no to Sachin, he is like my eldest son. But I had one condition. I said to Yuvi, ‘You know my way of training and I don’t want anyone interfering,’” Yograj told The Indian Express from Sheffield.
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PremiumArjun had moved to Goa from Mumbai at the time to get some “play time” and was due to visit Chandigarh for the JP Atray tournament.
According to Yograj, the two weeks Arjun spent with him were like a boot camp: getting up at 5am, running for two hours followed by a gym session – and not lifting heavy weights. Instead, Arjun was told to use his bodyweight exercises to strengthen his muscles and reduce the chance of injury.
In Porvorim Wednesday, Arjun scored 120 from 207 deliveries against Rajasthan, joining a 221-run partnership with teammate Suyash Prabhudessai, who hit 212 from 416 balls. Goa were 493 for 8 on stumps as the second day of the match drew to a close. (Express photo)
“I had told him to forget for the next 15 days that he is Sachin Tendulkar’s son. I feel like he was coddled by coaches because he is Tendulkar’s son. I told him to come out of his father’s shadow,” says Yograj.
Arjun impressed Yograj in the nets but not with his left arm pace. “When I saw him hit, I thought this man could be a destroyer. I immediately gave feedback to Sachin and Yuvraj. I called Sachin and asked him why he didn’t focus more on Arjun’s batting,’ says Yograj.
Soon, Arjun learned what it takes to work with the coach who is known to hold a shoe in one hand while training a young Yuvraj. The approach was no different this time. In an exhibition match, Yograj says, Arjun was hit on the shin while bowling. A quick visit to the doctor confirmed there was no fracture.
“He said, ‘sir, I can’t even stand’. I told him not to worry,” says Yograj. ‘I told him that you will never become gold if you don’t swim in the river of fire. I don’t know if it was out of anger or something, but he started hitting the ball with so much force. Few of them went all the way to the skating rink and tennis court (adjacent to Yograj academy).”
In Porvorim Wednesday, Arjun scored 120 from 207 deliveries against Rajasthan, joining a 221-run partnership with teammate Suyash Prabhudessai, who hit 212 from 416 balls. Goa were 493 for 8 on stumps as the second day of the match drew to a close.
He later told reporters that he had been waiting for the right opportunities to score. Arjun explained his approach and said, ‘Just start with the basics. Give the first hour to the bowlers and once I got through the early stages it was time to capitalize and get runs.
Arjun also admitted: he had no idea that he had imitated his father.