Pranav Dhanawade: After Sachin Tendulkar's bat, wonder kid gets offer to play in Air India's cricket team

The Mumbai schoolboy earlier secured a monthly scholarship for five years from the Mumbai Cricket Association.

New Delhi: Days after he received massive praise from across the world for his record-breaking 1009-run knock, Mumbai cricketer Pranav Dhanawade has been offered a place in Air India's cricket team.

Air India's offer to the 15-year-old cricketer is in line with their policy of encouraging budding talent in various fields, an official said.

"We already communicated our decision to Pranav's family yesterday. We have asked him to join Air India team on a scholarship basis," an Air India source said.

The official, however, did not share the scholarship amount that Air India would be paying to him.

Maharashtra has already announced that it would bear expenses for further coaching and education of the young cricketer who left the word astounded with his willow.

Dhanawade, son of an auto-rickshaw driver, on Thursday received the gift of his life as Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar presented him with a personal autographed bat.

The Mumbai school cricketer entered history books, as he smashed 1009 runs in a single innings, making him the first batsman to do so in the history of the game.

The 15-year-old achieved this incredible feat in Bhandari Trophy, an Under-16 inter-school tournament, at Union Cricket Academy ground in Kalyan.

Dhanawade was unbeaten on 1009* when his team finally declared on 1465.

Pranav's innings was studded with 59 sixes and 129 fours.

On Monday, he remained unbeaten on 652 thereby breaking the record of AEJ Collins who scored an unbeaten 628 in a club match in England in 1899.

(With PTI inputs)