Shams Mulani is one of the latest additions to the Mumbai family after being snapped up by the five-time Indian T20 League champions in the 2023 auction. This isn’t the first time Shams Mulani has been associated with Mumbai. He was a net bowler with them during their victorious 2020 campaign in the UAE.
The left-arm spinner hasn’t made his cash-rich league debut yet, although he was called in as a COVID replacement for Axar Patel by Delhi during the 2021 edition. However, the 25-year-old isn’t inexperienced by any stretch of the imagination, as he has been a regular for Mumbai across formats in domestic cricket. Indian cricket Suryakumar Yadav welcomed Mulani by putting an Instagram story. Mulani talked about his conversation and shared what Surya said to him after he was signed by Mumbai.
“Just two minutes after me being sold to MI, Surya Bhai called me up, and congratulated me. He has seen my journey as he was there in the team ever since my debut for Mumbai and he is like an elder brother to me, always guiding me. He has called me on dinners to discuss cricket and has always been a huge support.”
It is going to be very special: Mulani
Mulani who plays domestic cricket for Mumbai said that he has some experience playing in Mumbai and it will be very special to play in the home crowd.
“It is an added motivation to play for Mumbai in front of the home crowd. I have played quite a few games at the Wankhede and I know how the pitch plays. So I will try and use it to my advantage and perform to the level that my team expects me too. Playing in front of the Wankhede crowd is also going to be very special.”
Mulani has had a great year as he was the highest wicket-taker in the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy and also won the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Mumbai. It will be interesting to see how Mumbai uses the likes of Shams Mulani and Hrithik Shokeen with the ‘Impact Player’ rule effective from the Indian T20 League 2023.
