Mumbai Indians (MI) bought Shams Mulani in the IPL 2023 auction. Mulani, the left-arm spinner, is yet to make his IPL debut, although he was called in as a COVID replacement for Axar Patel by the Delhi Capitals during the 2021 edition as well. However, he was the highest wicket-taker in the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy and also won the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Mumbai as well.
While speaking in an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda, the all-rounder said, “Around 7:00 PM, I put the auctions on my IPad, but it was still on mute and no one was too excited because I had gone unsold in the past few auctions. So although there was a bit of hope in the family, there wasn’t too much excitement. Suddenly, I began receiving a lot of calls and I realized I was picked up by the Mumbai Indians.”
However, Shams Mulani went unsold in the previous few auctions, so his family wasn’t expecting anything following the IPL 2023 auction as well.
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“Everyone in the house just didn’t know how to react,” Shams Mulani said. “It took a bit of time to let it sink in, because it happened for the first time. After 30-45 minutes, everyone realized how huge an opportunity this was for me. Gradually as it sunk in that the most successful franchise in IPL history has picked me up in the auction, everyone was really happy.”
Meanwhile, this isn’t the first time Shams Mulani has been associated with the Mumbai Indians. He was a net bowler with them during their victorious IPL 2020 campaign in the UAE. He said that after being on their radar for quite some time, he was happy to finally play for them.
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“I wasn’t able to attend the latest two trials that the Mumbai Indians had called me for due to personal reasons. But before that, I have been to each and every trial that they have called me for. They have seen me closely for more than a couple of years now. I was in their training camp as well and I also went to Abu Dhabi (IPL 2020) with them as a support player. I am very grateful that MI have recognized the potential in me that I have been showing in the domestic arena. Feeling very honored to be a part of Mumbai Indians,” Shams Mulani concluded.
