Is Arjun Tendulkar finally breaking free from the nepotism narrative?

For a long time, Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun Tendulkar was viewed as someone who made it into teams because of “sifarish” — what many in places like St. Stephen’s College would casually call the “pull quota”. Many believed he was being retained in squads merely to oblige his father, the Bharat Ratna Tendulkar, with the backing of influential board officials who allegedly pushed for him.

But the way Arjun bowled the other night against Punjab Kings, and the opportunities he created during his full four-over spell, has forced many to reconsider that perception. Is he really just a “pull quota” player? Or was he unfairly judged for years by state association officials and IPL team managements simply because his father never aggressively lobbied for his son?

If that had truly been the case, Arjun would have featured regularly for Lucknow Super Giants and even in Mumbai Indians. The reality perhaps is far simpler: he is genuinely talented, works hard at his craft, and loves the sport deeply.

Hearing former India cricketer and commentator Irfan Pathan — himself a long-time admirer of Sachin Tendulkar — speak so passionately about Arjun Tendulkar’s dedication says a lot about the youngster’s love for the game. Pathan pointed out that Arjun was playing matches a day before his wedding and resumed playing immediately after it, underlining the commitment he has towards cricket. Like father, like son.

Yet, carrying the Tendulkar surname has perhaps brought its own burden. For years, Arjun has had to live with assumptions, scrutiny and accusations of favoritism. Just because he comes from Mumbai — a city often associated with Bollywood and nepotism — it should not automatically cast a shadow over his progress as a cricketer.

Everyone has seen glimpses of what Arjun can do with the bat as well. In fact, his coach Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, has publicly said that Arjun is actually a better batter than a bowler.

If that is indeed the case, then his performance with the ball in the last league game — which, according to some within the franchise, was projected more as an obligation than a genuine selection call — could well mark the beginning of better things for a youngster whose only “fault” has been being the son of Sachin Tendulkar.

This social narrative is not unique to the Tendulkars. From Abhishek Bachchan to Rohan Gavaskar and many others, sons and daughters of famous personalities have often been forced to fight perceptions before they are even judged on merit. But why is it so difficult for people to accept that children of legends can also be genuinely talented?

Now that Arjun has finally made a strong case for himself, perhaps it is time the system starts treating him with respect instead of dismissing him as a “pull quota” cricketer.

So what if he is tall and has a slight alignment issue in his run-up? He possesses a smooth bowling action, a solid follow-through, and the ability to consistently hit the right areas — arguably with greater control than many established bowlers. He can bowl ‘yorkers’ at will, hurl sharp bouncers too and already shows the attributes of a dependable all-rounder suited for franchise cricket.

What stands out even more is that Sachin has never appeared to pressure the system or seek favors for his son. In fact, Arjun has often seemed to suffer precisely because his father stayed away from lobbying or creating noise around his career. Deep down inside, the father of wanted his son to come into the limelight, but what’s wrong with that?

And if a franchise still does not believe in Arjun’s ability, perhaps that reflects more on the franchise than on the youngster himself.

Already, Arjun has earned a reputation as a terrific teammate and someone immensely popular within the dressing room — not least because of his generous habit of treating teammates and keeping the atmosphere lively.

But beyond the jokes, the memes and the constant scrutiny, perhaps the time has finally come for all those fans of Sachin Tendulkar to support this soft-spoken young cricketer for what he truly represents — sheer love for the game.

For years, Arjun has carried the weight of a famous surname, expectations that would crush most youngsters, and criticism that often had little to do with cricket itself. Yet he kept working quietly, without drama, without entitlement, and without demanding sympathy.

Now that his performances are beginning to speak for themselves, maybe the conversation around him should finally shift — from privilege to perseverance!