Vishal Dabholkar was clearly the star of Mumbai's thrilling, one-wicket win over Tamil Nadu yesterday. The left-arm spinner claimed five wickets in the first innings and returned figures of seven for 53 in the second innings as Mumbai scripted a memorable turnaround in the Ranji Trophy tie and take top spot in Group B.


Mumbai's Vishal Dabholkar (second from left) celebrates after claiming Tamil Nadu's Aswin Crist on Day Four of the Ranji Trophy game at the MCA-BKC ground yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble

Action problem
However, not long ago, Dabholkar's world had turned upside down. He had just finished the 2103-14 Ranji Trophy season as the highest wicket-taker (39) amongst spinners, and a few months later he received a letter from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stating that his action is 'under observation'. Thoughts of being labelled as 'chucker' haunted the 28-year-old.