Arjun Tendulkar set to feature in T20 Mumbai opener

Arjun Tendulkar will be eager to put in a strong performance that will make his team-mates and a famous father proud.

Arjun Tendulkar is set for his T20 Mumbai debut.

It’s been a little over a week since the Wankhede Stadium hosted its last Indian Premier League (IPL) game.

Still, less than 48 hours since laying his hands on the prized possession in the T20 world, Suryakumar Yadav, a vital cog in Mumbai Indians’ record fourth IPL triumph, will return to the Wankhede Stadium for a fling in his beloved format, albeit in a different avatar.

The stylish batsman will take to the field in charge of Triumph Knights Mumbai North East against newbies Aakash Tigers MWS in the inaugural clash of T20 Mumbai, a franchise-based league that has expanded into an eight-team affair in its second edition.

However, more than Yadav and the Tigers captain Dhawal Kulkarni, all eyes will be on a lanky 19-year-old who is set for his T20 Mumbai debut.

That the young left-arm pacer who is no muck with the bat has already represented India Under-19 in the longer format notwithstanding, Arjun Tendulkar will be eager to put in a strong performance that will make his team-mates and a famous father proud.

Supersonics to face ARCS

The late match of the day will see Shubham Ranjane and Pankaj Jaiswal, both of whom couldn’t get a game in their maiden IPL season, desperate to help ARCS Andheri upstage a formidable SoBo Supernonics.

While all-rounder Rajane and Jaiswal will be keen to justify their IPL call-ups, young pacer Tushar Deshpande will be looking forward to make a case to the IPL scouts who will be monitoring the tournament.

Had it not been for his dodgy fitness, Deshpande would have emerged as one of the domestic pacers to watch out for during the IPL auction last December.

Having proven his fitness in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Deshpande - along with opener Jay Bista - will be keen to prove a point to the IPL scouts with a strong show for Supersonics.

Monday’s fixtures 3.30pm: Triumph Knights Mumbai North East vs Aakash Tigers MWS 7.30pm: ARCS Andheri vs SoBo Supersonics Live on Star Sports and Hotstar