Tambe is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament so far, and can boast about winning two 'Man-of-the-Match' awards in it. In the last few days, some of the top batsmen in world cricket have fallen prey to his bag of tricks.
Despite toiling on the maidans since 1996, Tambe was ignored by the Mumbai's selectors due to the presence of top class-spinners. The leg-spinner played for the Shivaji Park Gymkhana from 1996 to 2004, while being employed by Orient Shipping from 1994 to 2004, before 'settling down' at DY Patil nine years back, where he is the captain.
It was only in February this year that he found his name in the Mumbai team, when he was picked in the squad for the Vijay Hazare knock-outs. Tambe's joy, however, remained short-lived as Mumbai were knocked out early in the tournament and he did not get a single game.
He was subsequently ignored from the list of Mumbai Ranji probables a couple of months back, left with little choice but to head back to the grind of local cricket - a scene he quite is familiar with. All this was of course until a surprise contract with the Royals changed his life.
"He was our dressing room in-charge a couple of years back when the DY Patil Stadium was the home ground for the Pune Warriors, so this is a big achievement for him. He is a dedicated cricketer, who tries whole-heartedly," says former India batsman and Mumbai coach Pravin Amre, before adding: "He is an outstanding fielder and a useful batsman...basically a very good package."
"He is a product of tennis-ball cricket. He is a gutsy cricketer, who never gives up. It is reflected in the way he added 143 with Kshemal Waigankar for the final wicket in the Times Shield semifinal last year (for DY Patil vs Tata SC) to win a game for his team.
He is fitter than many youngsters," Mumbai coach Sulakshan Kulkarni had told TOI a few months back. "He deserves all this praise. He has worked hard for it in the last 15-20 years. He never gives up," says former India seamer Abey Kuruvilla, Tambe's coach at DY Patil.
Tambe's CLT20 show, interestingly, has put the Mumbai selectors, who are intent on focusing on youth, in a dilemma. The Ranji champions recently lost the services of two of their best spinners- Ramesh Powar and Ankeet Chavan, due to various reasons. In their absence, the cupboard does look a bit bare.
Tambe may not have played for Mumbai, but has tonnes of experience in local cricket, where the standard is top-notch. "His name will be discussed," admits Mumbai chief selector Sudhir Naik, when quizzed about Tambe's prospects for a maiden Ranji cap.
The only factor that has impeded, and may hurt his case yet again, is his age. "When I was the Mumbai coach, I wanted him in my team, but I was told it would be a 'backward step' for Mumbai cricket. He was 38 at that time," reveals Amre.
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