OneTurf Exclusive: Shams Mulani on his bond with Suryakumar Yadav, IPL, and more

Star Mumbai cricketer Shams Mulani, who recently scripted a scintillating fifer in the Ranji Trophy, got candid in an exclusive chat with OneTurf News. The 27-year-old spin all-rounder discussed his aspirations to make it into the Indian team, his time with the five-time champions Mumbai Indians in the IPL, and more. Coming off a successful domestic season, Mulani spoke about finally being bagged by the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 mini auction. A passionate fan of the game, the seasoned star also opened up about the players he idolizes and the learning attitude that keeps him growing in cricket.

Shams Mulani talks about his close bond with Suryakumar Yadav in an exclusive chat with OneTurf News

Coming from a family of cricket enthusiasts, Mulani’s zest for the game and refined skills were identified early by his father, who enrolled him in professional training. The Mumbai-based player, with an early interest in batting, polished his game to grow into an all-rounder as he focused on spinning the ball. Mulani entered the first-class setup in 2018 for Mumbai. Over six years, he has cemented his name as a primary pick for the champion domestic team. The spinner has scalped 213 wickets across the 81 first-class innings he has played so far. Moreover, the 27-year-old emerged as a key factor behind Mumbai’s win at the 2024 Irani Cup, a title the team clinched after a long wait of 27 years.

Shams Mulani made his IPL debut in 2024 after being picked by his hometown team, the Mumbai Indians, in the mini auction. The star domestic player shared his feelings about finally being selected by a franchise. Mulani revealed that he had been expecting selection for the last three seasons. However, those expectations materialized in 2024 when MI bagged him and subsequently handed him his IPL debut in the same season. The all-rounder explained that his progress and emergence in the league came on the back of a significant change in his mindset. Mulani expressed that he now focuses on playing a brand of cricket that leaves lasting impressions, moving beyond his previous aim of simply making the cut for the team.

The Mumbai all-rounder also spoke about the special bond he shares with India’s T20I skipper, Suryakumar Yadav. Any cricket fan with a keen eye would have noticed the social media interaction between the two. When asked about it, Mulani explained that their bond grew during their time together in the Mumbai Indians camp during the pandemic-struck 2020 season. The all-rounder further added that as a youngster aspiring to play for India, he tries to learn from Surya.

“Sharing the camp for Mumbai over the last two years, I have developed a ‘big brother’ type of bond with Surya,” Shams said. “With Surya being a skilled T20I batter for India, as a youngster who is aspiring to play for India, there is always something you can learn from him,” he added.

When asked about the players who inspire him, Mulani presented an honest opinion. The spin all-rounder shared that, as a true fan of the game, he follows every tournament and picks something from every performer to incorporate into his own game. While he learns from everyone, he doesn’t truly idolize anyone. However, the refined player named Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon as two of his favorites, citing Ashwin’s numerous variations and his ability to find wickets on flat tracks as particularly astonishing.

That’s not all about Mulani and his journey in cricket. Listen to the full interaction here to uncover more intricacies about this rising star in Indian cricket: