Sara Tendulkar and Saaniya Chandhok add star power to Ekana as LSG host Gujarat Titans

Lucknow, 2026 – The Ekana Cricket Stadium witnessed more than just on-field fireworks on match-day as Lucknow Super Giants welcomed Gujarat Titans; it also drew a rare sighting of cricket royalty in the stands. Arjun Tendulkar’s wife Saaniya Chandhok and his elder sister Sara Tendulkar arrived together less than 24 hours earlier, stepping off a morning flight that was mobbed by photographers and fans eager for a glimpse of the Tendulkar clan. Both women, dressed in LSG colours, took seats in the VIP enclosure and were seen applauding every boundary struck by the home side.

Arjun, 27, was retained by Lucknow for ₹30 lakh at the December 2025 auction but remained on the bench for the second consecutive game, watching the proceedings in team kit from the dug-out. His high-profile family, however, ensured the cameras panned frequently to the pavilion as chants of “Sachin, Sachin” morphed into cheers for the newest Tendulkar on the roster.

When approached at the airport and asked which camp she was backing, Sara kept her answer diplomatic—offering only a smile and a polite wave before security ushered her through the terminal. Saaniya, who married Arjun in a glittering Mumbai ceremony on 5 March, echoed the silence, letting their presence do the talking once play began.

On the field, Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill called correctly at the toss and inserted the hosts, citing “two points and momentum” from their previous outing. “Consistency over 14 matches wins tournaments,” Gill emphasised while naming an unchanged XI. LSG captain Rishabh Pant also resisted rotation, backing the same XI that had scraped a thriller days earlier. “Every win shows character, but conditions change daily; intent must stay the same,” Pant noted.

As twilight settled over Ekana, the Tendulkar trio—Arjun on the sidelines, Sara and Saaniya in the stands—embodied the tournament’s unique blend of cricket pedigree and celebrity sheen, a reminder that even in a league of superstars, lineage still commands the spotlight.