Farhan Akhtar calls out trolls for criticising Arjun Tendulkar after IPL selection

Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun Tendulkar was bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 20 lakh in the Indian Premiere League (IPL) auction on Friday and it started nepotism debate once again. Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar has called out people for criticising Arjun and said they are being “cruel” to the young player.

The left-arm pacer had entered the auction with the base price of Rs 20 lakh and was sold at the same price to the five-time IPL champions.

Akhtar came out in support on Arjun Tendulkar in a post on Twitter, saying that his enthusiasm shouldn’t be killed with unfair comments. “I feel I should say this about Arjun Tendulkar. We frequent the same gym and I’ve seen how hard he works on his fitness, seen his focus to be a better cricketer. “To throw the word ‘nepotism’ at him is unfair and cruel. Don’t murder his enthusiasm and weigh him down before he’s begun,” the 47-year-old ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ star wrote.

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His father, Sachin Tendulkar, a legendary cricketer had played for Mumbai Indians for five editions, beginning from 2008 when the league started in the country.

Arjun Tendulkar was the last player to go under the hammer during the auction and there was one bid for him and that was by Mumbai Indians. The 21-year-old recently made his senior Mumbai team debut when he played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the national T20 championship, against Haryana.

So far, the left-handed batsman and left-arm pacer has played two matches for Mumbai in the T20 format, in which he has scored three runs and taken two wickets.