Bahutule named in Mumbai probables

Sairaj Bahutule, the former India legspinner, has been named in this season's Mumbai probables. Bahutule, 35, recently returned to his native team after a three-year stint with Maharashtra.

"I am absolutely glad to be back in the Mumbai team where I have lived for more than 30 years," Bahutule, a former Mumbai captain, told Daily News & Analysis. "When I had left, there were only three youngsters and now they have become top players and more talented players have come up."

Bahutule said he and Nilesh Kulkarni, another Mumbai veteran, will help out young local spinners while playing for the side. "I had the opportunity to play with them [spinners] at the indoor nets. I found them very talented especially Iqbal [Abdulla], Ankeet [Chavan], Bhavesh [Patel]. I think they will do well in the future. And whenever they need my help, I will be there."

Bahutule, who moved to Maharashtra in 2005 after 15 years with Mumbai for better pay among other reasons, said he had wanted to return to his original team after a year with Maharashtra. "I wanted to come back immediately but I was contracted till August. I tried to return after one year but could not do so as I was given a show-cause notice and I did not want to get into legal complications."

Bahutule said he wasn't expecting to be picked to the Mumbai squad automatically on the basis of his seniority and was prepared to play local tournaments in order to make the cut.