The left-arm spinner who grew around one of Indian cricket's most respected temples — the Shivaji Park — now has to live a life of complete ignominy after being banned for life by the BCCI's disciplinary committee on Friday for his role in the spot-fixing scandal.
The 27-year-old was Mumbai's best bowler in the season gone by. He picked up 33 wickets in 10 games at a respectable average of 28.75, playing a significant role in his side's 40th Ranji Trophy triumph.
He recorded awe-inspiring figures of 9-23 against Punjab at the Wankhede — a performance that left Harbhajan Singh feeling that Chavan was the best left-arm spinner in the country.
"I'm sure he would have been a regular feature in the West Zone side. Things were really looking up for him. He had so much to offer. It's very sad to know he has been banned for life," said Wasim Jaffer, the man under whom Chavan made his Ranji debut in 2008.
Things were really shaping up well for the soft-spoken player who had won Rahul Dravid's confidence while playing for the Rajasthan Royals. On the personal front too, he was eagerly waiting to the tie the knot with his girlfriend Neha on June 2 when the lid was blown-off the scandal.
He was arrested on May 16 and remained in Tihar jail for close to a month. After his release, Chavan claimed innocence. The writing, however, was on the wall and his body-language was a clear giveaway.
Satish Samant, who has known Chavan for "almost 15 years", having coached him at the MIG and then at Karnataka Sporting, believes his student is "innocent".
"I'm speechless," he said in a choked voice. "We have to respect the verdict, but there is hope as the court still has to decide. I had met him once during this phase, and he told me 'Sir, I am innocent.'
I am willing to believe him, because I'm going by my experience of having known him for so long," Samant told TOI. Samant feels the authorities could have been a little lenient. "His life is shattered now. You have to look at the crime committed and its impact. He hasn't betrayed the nation," he said.
Chavan could have been among the many from Mumbai who have gone on to play for India. Sadly, though, he ended up becoming the first from the city to be banned for life.
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