Arjun Tendulkar, son of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, made headlines on the opening day of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 after being promoted to open the batting for Goa. The left-hander, who has largely been viewed as a bowling all-rounder in his young domestic career, surprised many by walking out as an opener in Goa’s clash against Uttar Pradesh at the Jadavpur University Campus in Kolkata.
Facing the new ball alongside Ishaan Gadekar, Arjun Tendulkar produced an energetic start, striking four crisp boundaries in a 22-ball cameo worth 28 runs. His brief but impactful innings helped Goa gain early momentum in their innings before he eventually fell to Uttar Pradesh fast bowler Shivam Mavi. Mavi, who has previously represented the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League across three seasons, used the pitch conditions effectively to break Goa’s rhythm just as Tendulkar was settling in.
Goa’s Steady Start and Key Partnerships
Although Goa lost opener Ishaan Gadekar early—clean bowled by veteran swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a 10-ball 16—the team recovered well. Arjun Tendulkar formed a crucial 55-run second-wicket partnership with Abhinav Tejrana, ensuring Goa maintained a healthy scoring rate during the powerplay. When Tendulkar walked back to the pavilion at 75/2 in 7.3 overs, Goa looked set for a formidable total.
The standout performance of the innings, however, came from Abhinav Tejrana. The middle-order batter exploded to a scintillating 72 off just 35 balls, hammering four boundaries and launching six towering sixes. His aggressive batting appeared to position Goa for a major total, but Uttar Pradesh bowlers struck back in the middle overs. Tejrana’s dismissal in the 15th over by Vipraj Nigam halted Goa’s momentum and opened the door for a late-innings collapse.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shivam Mavi Keep Goa in Check
Experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar used his variations intelligently, picking up two wickets while maintaining an excellent economy rate. Shivam Mavi was equally impressive, finishing with three wickets and ensuring Goa never truly broke free in the death overs. Despite a late push from Vikash Singh, who added a quick unbeaten 21 off 14 deliveries, Goa concluded at 172/9, a competitive but not intimidating total.
Arjun Tendulkar Struggles With the Ball as Uttar Pradesh Dominates the Chase
While Arjun Tendulkar contributed positively with the bat, his bowling performance did not yield the same success. The left-arm pacer conceded 29 runs from just 2.2 overs, struggling to find rhythm or control against Uttar Pradesh’s confident batting lineup.
The chase was anchored masterfully by Uttar Pradesh opener Aryan Juyal, who delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament’s opening day. Juyal smashed an unbeaten 93 off 57 balls, featuring 11 fours and three sixes. His fluent strokeplay ensured UP remained ahead of the required rate throughout the innings. The side chased down the 173-run target with six wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare, sealing a convincing win.
A New Chapter for Arjun Tendulkar in the IPL
Away from domestic cricket, Arjun Tendulkar also found himself in the news recently after being traded from Mumbai Indians to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the upcoming IPL mini-auction. The trade, valued at ₹30 lakh, sets up a fresh opportunity for the young all-rounder, who will now play under the leadership of Rishabh Pant. The move marks a significant shift in his T20 career as he seeks more match time and a defined role in a new environment.
T20 Career Snapshot Before the Opening Role
Before opening the batting in SMAT 2025, Arjun had featured in 11 T20 innings, scoring 119 runs at an average of 13.22, with a personal best of 47. His decision to take up a top-order role may signal his intent to contribute more substantially as a batting all-rounder in the future.
