Who is Satyajeet Bachhav?
Satyajeet Bachhav is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler who plays for the Ratnagiri Jets in the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL). Having made his first-class debut for Maharashtra in 2012, the Nasik-born has represented his state in all three formats of the domestic game.
Bachhav has picked up over 100 wickets in first-class cricket for Maharashtra, with a best bowling figure of 8/108 against Railways in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy. Overall, he took 28 wickets in seven matches in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, which was the most by any Maharashtra bowler.
The 31-year-old had a strong showing in the 2018-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy too, finishing the campaign as his side’s joint-leading wicket-taker with 15 scalps in eight encounters. He picked up a fifer against Punjab, which included the wickets of Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Sharma, and Mandeep Singh.
Despite a decline in both form and playing opportunities for Maharashtra in recent years, the experienced spinner has been performing exceedingly well in the MPL this season.
Satyajeet Bachhav is the leading wicket-taker in MPL 2024
The Ratnagiri Jets acquired Satyajeet Bachhav for INR 60k in the MPL 2024 auction. He quickly adapted to his new surroundings, as evidenced by his current hold on the Vasant Ranjane Purple Cap, with 18 wickets in just seven matches.
Bachhav has carried the bowling unit of the Ratnagiri-based franchise at times, winning matches almost single-handedly. The left-arm spinner has taken the most wickets for the Ratnagiri Jets in all but two of their games, going wicketless only once this season.
Fondly called “SB Nana,” he turned the match against the Raigad Royals on its head the other day. Chasing just 139, the Royals were cruising at 43/1 at the end of the powerplay. In the seventh over, however, Bachhav picked up three wickets and instantly brought the Jets right back into the contest at 46/4.
The wily spinner made his mark once again in the penultimate over of the match. With the Raigad Royals needing 19 runs in the last two overs and Vicky Ostwal batting on 46 off 30 balls, the match was still in their favor. Bachhav scalped two wickets in consecutive deliveries to put the match to bed. His fifer earned the Ratnagiri Jets two points and his second Player of the Match award of the season.
Such has been the consistency and excellence of Satyajeet Bachhav’s bowling this season that it led a commentator to say, “It’s his second over, and he is yet to pick up a wicket,” during the Ratnagiri Jets’ recent loss at the hands of the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings.
That is the level of expectation Bachhav has set for himself. His economy rate of 6.73 has also been exemplary. With performances like these, he is poised to be a vital player not only for his MPL franchise but also for Maharashtra in the coming years.
