'He has been like my elder brother'- Shams Mulani on Suryakumar Yadav
Shams Mulani in action [Source: Twitter]
The five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians bagged experienced spinner Shams Mulani in the recently held mini-auction for the upcoming season of the tournament.
Mulani's addition brings immense value to the team, as he, being a local player, has played plenty of cricket at the iconic Wankhede.
In an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda, Mulani revealed that Indian batting maestro Suryakumar Yadav was the first one to congratulate him after he was picked by Mumbai in the mini-auction.
Addressing Surya as his elder brother, Mulani explained how Surya has guided him throughout his career, expressing his excitement to don MI's jersey for the first time in front of the home crowd.
Here's what he stated
"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 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."