Maratha Royals batter Chinmay Sutar said he will use the upcoming Mumbai Cricket League season to push for an Indian Premier League (IPL) look-in, after winning the MCL Orange Cap last year. The 24-year-old Mumbai top-order batter told reporters on Saturday that his priority this season is to perform consistently and catch the eye of IPL scouts ahead of the 2027 auction.

Early influence and home ground

Chinmay, who grew up in a sporting household in Mumbai, says his father Rajesh played a formative role in shaping his cricketing ambitions. According to the player, Rajesh opened the batting alongside Sachin Tendulkar in local matches, and his experiences on the field inspired Chinmay to pick up a bat at age five. “I have been watching my dad play cricket since childhood,” Chinmay said in a video shared on his social feed. “Seeing him, I always felt that I should also play cricket.”

From age-group cricket to club ranks

The batter traced his understanding of professional cricket to his time in age-group competitions. He told reporters that while he enjoyed the game casually as a child, the shift to Under-14 and then A-division club cricket gave him a clearer sense of the pathway to higher levels. “After playing school games, when I started playing age-group cricket like Under-14 and then A-division club cricket, that's when I truly got an idea of what the path of professional cricket is like,” he said.

A major setback at 15

Chinmay also opened up about a challenging phase at 15 when illness sidelined him for nearly 11 months. Initial reports indicate the long break had both physical and mental consequences; Chinmay described that period as “very sensitive” and said staying away from the field for almost a year tested his resolve. “It is extremely difficult for a player to stay away from the field for such a long time, but I did not give up and kept myself mentally strong,” he said.

Role of his father and support system

Throughout the recovery and subsequent rise, Chinmay credited his father as his principal coach and guide. He said Rajesh has been present “in every situation,” helping him through slumps and explaining technical nuances that shaped his game. “Whenever I felt down in cricket or in life, he always helped me and still does. He is the biggest part of my life,” Chinmay said, acknowledging the influence on his approach to batting and temperament.

Player profile and ambitions

A right-handed top-order batter by trade, Chinmay insists he is “completely a batter” though he can bowl spin if required. His Orange Cap-winning campaign for Maratha Royals in the 2025 MCL raised his profile locally; sources familiar with franchise scouting suggest strong MCL performances are increasingly being monitored by IPL talent spotters, especially for the 2027 season. Chinmay says he plans to focus on consistent run-scoring and match-winning contributions to force consideration.

Ground-level cues

At practice nets in central Mumbai on Saturday morning, teammates described Chinmay as calm and deliberate — the sort of batter who builds an innings rather than chasing quick fireworks. Club coaches say his technique against pace and his ability to rotate strike in the middle overs stood out during last season’s MCL, traits that could translate well to franchise cricket.

What’s next

Chinmay will turn out for Maratha Royals in the upcoming MCL, which starts next month, and expects to play through the Mumbai club calendar to remain match-sharp. He has also had brief stints in England’s division cricket, which he says helped him adapt to different conditions. Scouts and franchise analysts will be watching the MCL closely; for Chinmay, the immediate task is simple — keep scoring and stay fit.

If he delivers another high-scoring season, the batter believes an IPL chance will follow. “This year I will make every effort to grab the attention of the IPL franchises with my performance,” he said.