MUMBAI, Jan 2: An Indian schoolboy, whose name and insatiable appetite for runs bear a strong resemblance to superstar Sachin Tendulkar, is making waves in cricketing circles.

Rahul Tondulkar, like the original master, hails from cricket-crazy Mumbai and is a right-handed batsman who has already notched up record-breaking feats in schools cricket at the age of 14.

Last week, Tondulkar smashed an unbeaten 357 with 49 fours and three sixes for Sule Guruji School in a Harris Shield elite group match against St Francis School in the city.

It is the same tournament in which Tendulkar burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old in 1988 by making 326 not out in a world-record stand of 664 with childhood friend Vinod Kambli.

Kambli, whose tournament record of 349 not out was overtaken by Tondulkar, was delighted at another youngster posting a 300-plus score.

“I know how it feels to score 300 runs in school cricket,” Kambli said. “It’s not an easy task to reach a triple hundred. He must have concentrated hard.”

Tendulkar, however, cautioned against putting the young lad under the media glare.

“Any youngster performing well is good for the country, but since he is still in school he has a long time to get to the highest level,” said Tendulkar, who played Test cricket at 16.

“It is not right to put Rahul under pressure by expecting a lot from him. Leave him alone to enjoy and develop his game.”

Rahul’s father Ravindra said that when their son came home and told them he was batting on 227, “we told him he must get to 300.

“We are very proud of his achievement, but not surprised at all. He breathes cricket. But he has a long way to go still. You can’t compare him with Sachin.”

Tendulkar, preparing for this week’s tour of Pakistan, is the world’s most successful one-day batsman with 13,909 runs and 38 centuries.

He also boasts a world-record 35 Test hundreds.—AFP