The Pimpri Panthers have roped in Yogesh Takawale, the right-hand wicket-keeper batsman who played for the Mumbai Indians team in IPL II, to play in their team. This will be a big boost for the Panthers as well as the tournament in general as Takawale brings with him international experience.

Yogesh Takawale made his first-class debut as a specialist batsman for Maharashtra in 2005-06.

In October 2006, he scored a fluent 50 against the Australians in a warm-up match ahead of the Champions Trophy and carried that form into the Ranji Trophy, with 351 runs at 50.14. Maharashtra plumped for youth the next season, and Takawale took over the wicket keeping duties. His hard-hitting batting earned him a place in the Mumbai Indians' squad for the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League and later with a fringe Indian squad for a short tour of Israel.

The tournament commences on Friday at Deccan Gymkhana and at Manchar. The first match has been scheduled to take place between Parvati Peshwas and Pimpri Panthers. The taluka-level players will also stand to gain from the experience of the 25-year- old.