He was a left-handed batsman and left-arm slow bowler who played for Maharashtra. Bhave made his cricketing debut in the CK Nayudu Trophy competition of 1979-1980, playing two matches for Maharashtra Under-22s, scoring 9 runs. He played a single further match in the competition.
Bhave made a single first-class appearance for Maharashtra, during the 1987-1988 season, against Gujarat.
In the only innings in which he batted, he scored a duck. He bowled 18 overs in the match, conceding 45 runs.
Bhave"s brother, Surendra, played for Maharashtra for 15 years.