Chavan makes emotional return at Wankhede Stadium

While a section of Mumbairsquos club cricketers were delighted to be part of the resumption of local cricket with the Padmakar Talim Shield on Saturday it was also a special day for Ankeet Chavan the leftarm spinnerChavan 35 returned to competitive cricket after eight years He was banned for his alleged involvement in the 2013 IPL spot fixing controversyThe Mumbai Cricket Association MCA has decided to start the COVIDhit season with lsquoArsquo and lsquoBrsquo division clubs competing in the T20 Talim Shield Clubs from lsquoCrsquo to lsquoGrsquo division will be part of a league tournament in honour of former Mumbai captain and MCA president Madhav Mantri whose birth centenary is being marked this yearChavan helped Karnatak Sporting Association snatch a thrilling threewicket win over Victory Cricket Club at the Wankhede Stadium This is the same ground where Chavan played for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians before he was banned for life by the BCCI along with S Sreesanth and Ajit ChandilaAlso Read T20 World Cup Aaron Finch backs David Warner to open despite woes in IPLNew inningsChavan was cleared by the BCCI earlier this year to resume cricket Reaching the Wankhede Stadium to start his new innings on Saturday morning was nothing short of emotionalldquoTo be at the Wankhede Stadium is a matter of pride for any Mumbai player Itrsquos not just a ground it is a home for me and all Mumbai players When I reached here in the morning I was emotional because I played my last match at Wankhede and Irsquom starting my new journey at the same venue I missed the Wankhede a lot in the last eight years But all that is gone and I donrsquot want to think of it Irsquom now back on the field and want to give my best for the teamrdquo Chavan told Sunday middayPut in to bat Victory CC amassed 1755 in the allotted 20 overs thanks to Suved Parkar 56 Varun Deshpande 37 and Karan Shah 32 Pacer Akash Parkar took three for 26 for Karnatak SA In reply riding on Vinayak Bhoirrsquos unbeaten 76 off just 36 balls 3x4 6x6 Karnatak SA secured a win with four balls to spareNot a bad startChavan who went wicketless conceding 25 runs in his three overs scored an 18ball 20 with the help of three fours He admitted that there was some pressure on him ldquoBut being on the ground again playing a game was a source of great satisfaction for me not just me but for my family and wife Neha because they all supported me through these years and boosted my confidence I have courage and strength today because of themrdquo Chavan remarked ldquoI am not thinking about where I will play or what I will play I will try to give my 100 per cent It is up to the selectors and my performance Depending on my performance if they feel I am good enough to come back I will be really happy it will be a totally different feeling But of course I want to make a comeback at the earliest and that is why I started playing cricket againrdquo Chavan signed offAlso Read India short of one pacer for T20 World Cup MSK Prasad