Ankeet Chavan may now be in the news for all the wrong reasons but the Mumbai bowler had been steadily progressing over the last five years as a reliable left-arm orthodox spinner and a useful batsman lower down the order.

Having started as a middle-order batsman and a spinner on the maidans of Mumbai, Chavan made his debut for Mumbai in the 2008-09 season. Earlier this year, he emerged as Mumbai's leading spinner during their 40th title triumph. He eclipsed Iqbal Abdulla to emerge as the No. 1 spinner in the side and also played his part in the win, as Mumbai's highest wicket-taker of the season.

Even when he was away from the first-class scene for two years after making his debut, he was more or less a permanent fixture for Mumbai in the domestic one-day and Twenty20 championships. As a result, Chavan, who was a member of the Mumbai Indians' set-up in the inaugural IPL season, was signed up by Rajasthan Royals in 2011 and has been a quiet performer for the franchise over the last three seasons. Exactly two years since his debut in 2011, Chavan was picked up by Delhi Police, hours after representing Royals in his hometown.
Amol Karhadkar