He looks in perfect sync with the rest of the Saurashtra team in his blue and white outfit but the accented English and his brand of left-arm spin gives away his pedigree.

Nayan Dilip Doshi created a storm much before Monty Panesar captured England’s imagination; today, far away from the national team, Nayan is looking to settle his own future.

The 30-year-old has returned to the same team with whom he made his first-class debut eight years ago, before shifting to county cricket. And though he’s yet to break into Saurashtra’s first XI this season, Nayan is hoping for another spin to his cricket story.

“Actually, I can have the best of both worlds. I still have offers from different counties who want me to play there. But here I am in Rajkot, my house just two minutes away, and looking to play first class cricket in India.

“I am registered there in England, and I can play first class here as well. I was the first-choice spinner for Saurashtra when I first played, and I am looking to force my way into the team again,” he says. “I took Surrey to a championship win and was the best bowler in Twenty20 and got my county cap with huge expectations. But then some things happened which weren’t in my control.

Learning from the past

“That’s when I decided not to bother much about it. Yes, I did make some mistakes in my career and I have learnt from those mistakes,” he says, reflecting on his mid-season switch from Surrey to Warwickshire in 2006, his subsequent jump to Derbyshire next year before requesting to be released from their contract and packed his bags back for Saurashtra.

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