Why the anger at Arjun Tendulkar's selection over Pranav is 'wrong'

Here's why anger at Arjun Tendulkar's selection over 'wonder boy' Pranav wrong

Being angry and agitated about a multitude of causes and having an opinion is a very human trait that there from the start of time. But imposing that opinion and taking up for causes on social media without verification is a new-age human trait.

On Tuesday, Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun and Pranav Dhanawade, the teenage cricket sensation who scripted cricket history with an unbeaten knock of 1009, started trending on social media platforms.

Sachin Tendulkar and son Arjun. Pic/Atul Kamble

There was a lot of indignation on Twitter and Facebook over the 'privileged' Arjun Tendulkar being picked over 'auto-driver's son' Pranav.

On inspection it emerged that that Arjun was picked for the U-16 West Zone squad for an inter-zonal tournament that had started from May 24 on Hubli and it will conclude next Monday on June 6.

The squad, announced by Baroda Cricket Association secretary Snehal Parikh, was selected by the All India Junior Selection Committee last week on May 23rd.

The meeting was presided by its chairman Rakesh Parikh and the selection committee comprises coaches Tushar Arothe, Shantanu Sugwekar, Samir Dighe and J Krishna Rao.

But the indignation is misplaced since people are raising a question about Arjun being selected over Pranav in the India under-16 team, whereas the truth is it's the West Zone squad.

Furthermore, the West Zone's u-16 team is picked from the MCA under-16 team, which Pranav wasn't a part of. Arjun was a part of it and hence eligible for selection.

Add to the mix the fact that Arjun Tendulkar is an all-rounder and would not have been competing with Pranav in any case.

Also, all this is speculation because ultimately none of the people talking on social media were there in the selection meeting and to allude that Sachin Tendulkar 'influenced' it or that Arjun got in because of his genes is just plain 'wrong'.

Further, the Arjun Tendulkar bashing, which indirectly targets cricket legend Sachin, comes at a time when comedian Tanmay Bhat is being hauled over the coals over his video 'mocking' Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar.

It is hypocrisy to at the same time 'protect' an icon and also target him.

Pranav Dhanawade poses with the scoreboard in Kalyan after scoring the world record 1009 not out.

But people's heckles were raised by the 'injustice' of the act. Here are some of the tweets:

As with every debate, there were some who stood up for Arjun too.