Chavan struck a breezy unbeaten 68 with 11 fours and a six off 90 balls at stumps on day one of the three-day cricket match as Merchant XI grabbed a 95-run first innings lead by making 189 for 6 in reply to Phadkar XI's paltry 94.
Earlier, the left-arm spinner had taken two wickets, playing a supporting role to left-arm medium-pacer Bhargav Mehta's 4 for 25 to help shoot out their rivals for below 100.
In the other game, Khandu Rangnekar XI amassed 321 for 6 with captain Ramanpreet Singh (118 off 147 balls with 16 fours and a six) and Amogh Bhatkal (108 off 132 balls with 19 fours) putting on 202 runs for the fourth wicket after being put in to bat.
The match started one hour late due to wet ground conditions.
Brief scores: Dattu Phadkar XI 94 all out in 39 overs (Bhargav Mehta 4-25, Yash Chavan 2-13) vs Vijay Merchant XI 189-6 in 51 overs (Vikrant Auti 31, Parikshit Valsankar 40, Yash Chavan 68 not out; Karsh Kothari 2-49, Ankit Naik 2-19).
Khandu Rangnekar XI 321-6 in 77 overs (Ramanpreet Singh 118, Amogh Bhatkal 108; Abrahim Kazi 2-56, Vijay Gohil 2-42) vs Vijay Manjrekar XI.