The Mumbai cap!

Sairaj Bahutule, the former India legspinner, has been named in this season's Mumbai probables. Bahutule, 35, recently returned to his native team after a three-year stint with Maharashtra.

Isnt this the same Sairaj Bahutule who left Mumbai for Maharastra in 2005

The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has finally put an end to the speculation surrounding transfer of players to their state by selecting Sairaj Bahutule, the former Indian legspinner, Nilesh Kulkarni, the former Indian left-arm spinner, and Munaf Patel, the Mumbai fast bowler, for the forthcoming season.

ostensibly because

"friction with the establishment and a greater monetary allure probably prompted his decision to end a 15-year career with Mumbai and move on to neighbouring Maharashtra. "

And isnt this the same Sairaj Bahutule who was Mumbai captain the previous season?

And isnt this the same guy who dumped Maharastra in 2006

Former Mumbai legspinner Sairaj Bahutule's decision to quit Maharashtra and return to the city of his birth has run into criticism from local cricket authorities. Ajay Shirke, the Maharashtra Cricket Association [MCA] chief, has hinted at a potential legal tussle following Bahutule's decision to quit after just one year.

and was sidelined with injury and legal troubles in 2007?

And yet, he now finds himself in the Mumbai probables.

Contrast this with the other spinner Mumbai has, another Mumbaikar with longstanding service for the great city

When they learned that Kulkarni, who is currently playing league cricket in England, had indeed been offered a contract by ICL, and was dilly-dallying over whether to sign or not, and reportedly asked for a few days time before he made up his mind, Mumbai's selectors made theirs up. They dropped Kulkarni for the Nissar Trophy match, replacing him with Mundeep Mungela, the medium-pacer.

and did not pick him till the must win game against Saurashtra last year.

And the previous year

As things panned out on the eve of the game, Kulkarni was in the XI when coach Praveen Amre and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar finalised the squad. But minutes before the official list was handed over to the officials, Mumbai decided to play one spinner Ramesh Powar and four seamers.

So let me understand this - a long standing servant of Mumbai cricket is treated like dirt by the selectors while a turn coat finds himself in the probables list as soon as he is available?

And if the intent in sidelining Nilesh Kulkarni was to blood Iqbal Abdulla, what sense does it make to bring in a 35 year olf leg spinner battling injuries?

Is the Mumbai cap really that cheap or are the selectors trying their darndest to devalue its worth?

PS:- On the Mumbai Cricket website, it reads

As per the instructions from Mr. Dilip Vengsarkar, Chairman, Selection Committee, the following players are being included in the list of probables for practice nets for Mumbai Team.
1.	Sairaj Bahutule
2.	Nilesh Kulkarni
Hemant Waingankar Jt. Hon. Secretary & Convenor

whatever that means!