Arjun Tendulkar is enjoying the limelight after being awarded as the ‘darling of the tournament’ by Australian media as he turned up for Cricket Club of India (CCI) in the Spirit of Cricket Global Challenge at Bradman Oval in Bowral.

Arjun picked up 4 wickets and also scored a 27-ball 48 in Australia playing the T20 match on January 11. Arjun, unlike his father Sachin Tendulkar, is a left handed bowling all-rounder and was inspired by the likes of Wasim Akram.

Not only he was inspired by the former Pakistan pacer, Arjun also had the privilege to get guidance from Akram. “I just grew taller and got stronger. And I just loved bowling fast in my childhood. So I thought I might as well be a fast bowler because there’s not many in India,” he was quoted as saying by BBC.

“I used to play many sports as a kid, football, swimming, running, taekwondo. And then cricket just developed, while everything else took a back seat.  Zaheer Khan, (Mitchell) Johnson, (Mitchell) Starc and Wasim Akram. At the moment it is Johnson and Starc. Very privileged to get advice from all of them. Wasim Akram basically told me how to grip the ball and swing the ball. And he taught me how to shine it,” he added.

He also talked about the art of pace bowling he learned. “Whenever you put spit on the ball you have to throw it around. When the spit dries rub it (ball) on the pant. The main thing is keep it away from the sweatiest guy in the team,” Arjun said.