Dhawal Kulkarni played 12 ODIs and 2 T20Is (PC: Santosh Bane).

From the Sachin Tendulkar era to the current Prithvi Shaw generation, Dhawal Kulkarni has been a dominating presence in numerous Mumbai dressing rooms, rubbing shoulders with stars such as Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Shreyas Iyer, and Sarfaraz Khan. Amidst these cricketing phases, along came the likes of Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane.

In his illustrious career spanning more than 16 years, Kulkarni has been instrumental in Mumbai's success in four Ranji Trophy titles (2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13, and 2015/16), two Vijay Hazare triumphs (2018/19 & 2020/21), and one Syed Mushtaq Ali championship (2022/23). In his 71 appearances in the Ranji Trophy, he has scalped 226 batsmen, including 12 five-wicket hauls. His debut season in 2008 saw him terrorizing batsmen, claiming an impressive 42 wickets. He would easily go down as a fast-bowling legend of Mumbai cricket.

While his achievements in the domestic circuit have been splendid, his international career did not exactly take off to the heights of some of his peers. He managed only 12 ODIs and two T20Is and made peace with himself for his limited international career. As he approaches his imminent retirement after the upcoming Ranji final between Mumbai and Vidarbha, he reflects on his career in an interview with Cricbuzz, revealing one lingering regret. Excerpts...

So you were the best bowler in the 2008-09 season, claiming 42 wickets. Do you remember that season?

Yeah, very much! That was my first season for Mumbai. And in the debut game itself, I took nine wickets - five in the first and four in the second -- against Rajasthan. It was a memorable first game, and I gained the confidence to perform well for Mumbai.

Your ability to bowl consistently on the off-stump corridor and your late movement caught attention in your first season. Do you think you could have achieved more with that skill?

There was always room for learning and improvement. Even after playing for over 16 years, I still feel the same way. I believe I could have accomplished much more. I've always been critical of myself and driven to excel. Developing the late movement was something I achieved early in my career. Later, I developed another delivery that would jag back in. With the emergence of T20 cricket, versatility became a necessity.

Now that you are retiring, how do you look back at your career?

It's been a memorable journey. I've seen both highs and lows. The failures have helped me learn a lot and also improve, as a cricketer as well as a human being.

Your international career did not exactly take off?

I suppose only that much was written in my destiny. Whatever chances I got, I did well. I gave everything that I could. The only thing that eluded me was a Test cap. It would have been a significant achievement, considering my performance in Ranji cricket. That will always be a source of regret.

Do you believe injuries hindered your career progression?

Injuries are an inevitable part of a fast bowler's life. I haven't encountered any fast bowler who hasn't suffered injuries. It was indeed a challenge for me, but I accepted and overcame those hurdles. Balancing domestic cricket across all three formats, along with IPL commitments and international cricket simultaneously, takes a toll on one's body. However, I managed to navigate through it all, thanks to the fitness goals I set during pre-season, my dietary regimen, and the discipline I maintained throughout the years."

Any dressing room memories that you can recall?

There are many. When I first entered the Mumbai dressing room, I found myself amidst legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Ramesh Powar, Amol Muzumdar, and Wasim Jaffer. As a youngster, playing alongside them was a dream. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of that dressing room, to experience that era firsthand. Later, I witnessed the rise of players like Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane. And now, I see the emergence of talents like Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, and Sarfaraz Khan. I've been privileged to be a part of three generations of outstanding Mumbai cricketers.

Could you share any memorable on-field moments?

One unforgettable moment was during the final against Saurashtra in 2012-13. Sachin Tendulkar was positioning himself at mid-on and mid-off, engaging in continuous discussions about our plans and strategies. The execution was responsibility. That was truly memorable.

Why don't we see express fast bowlers coming from Mumbai these days?

Because there's a lot of cricket being played these days. You find one express pacer in 10 guys. Recently, the Mumbai Cricket Association held a camp. I'm sure they must have found out someone

You played many defiant knocks with the bat (15 fifties and one century). Did it come from the Mumbai upbringing?

The conversations in the dressing room used to be about 'khadoosness' and how not to throw your wicket away. That's what helped me. I used to listen to them intently. Everyone in the side had that in them -- the khadoos attitude. You can see how the lower order scored centuries this season.

What about this year's final?

We've played good cricket throughout the season. Everyone has done well. Everyone has chipped in at different times. Then team is confident

Now what next for you?

I want to be associated with cricket and give it back to the game. I have learnt so much from the game. The aim is to pass on the knowledge to the younger generations that I learned in my career. What use is it to keep it to myself?

Finally, what happened during the 2015 World Cup? You were the regular member and then you became the 16th member.

I don't know. It was up to the captain, the selectors and the team management. The team was doing very well. So the combination was kept consistent. There are no regrets.