Shams Mulani’s 89 runs in the Duleep Trophy match against India D in Anantapur served as another testament to his status as the ultimate utility player. His consistent wicket-taking abilities in the Ranji Trophy, with 46 scalps in the 2022/23 season and 45 in 2021/22, had already put him on the radar for a national call-up. He even got a taste of international cricket when he played for India A against England Lions in January this year. However, Mulani’s all-round prowess was truly showcased during the last domestic season, where he claimed 35 wickets and scored 353 runs, playing a key role in Mumbai’s record-extending 41st Ranji Trophy title.
“He was a team person from the beginning. He wanted to do something for the team, either with the bat or the ball,” says Sandesh Kawle, Mulani’s coach at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana. Throughout his 55 First-Class innings, Mulani has displayed a knack for turning the tide with the bat. Four of his 16 half-centuries, including the one against India D, have come when his side was struggling, having lost four wickets or more before reaching a hundred runs.
“Everyone wants a player who can contribute with the bat down the order. And that’s what I try to do; contribute as much as I can for the team. I’ve been playing for the past four years for Mumbai and I try to stay as consistent as possible. That mindset of playing for the team helps me a lot,” says Mulani.
On Thursday, India A was teetering at 93 runs for five wickets when Mulani came to the rescue. He navigated the challenging bounce, which had proved fatal for his predecessors, with ease and steadied the innings in partnership with Kumar Kushagra and Tanush Kotian. India A eventually finished on 290 runs.
“When I go to bat I think of myself as a proper batter. [I ask myself] How can I build a small partnership? Suppose, we are struggling at 93 for five and if we can get somewhere to a reasonable total, that’s what I aim for. I just thought about building a small partnership; ‘let’s get the team to 150 first, then push 25-25 runs ahead.’ Then me and Kushagra had a small partnership before me and Tanush had a good partnership,” says Mulani.
While several India A batters fell victim to aggressive shots against pace, Mulani remained composed, playing close to his body and confidently facing bouncers from the likes of Arshdeep Singh. Once he steered his team out of trouble, Mulani unleashed his attacking instincts against the spinners. His powerful pick-up shot over mid off against Harshit Rana just before the close of play highlighted the growing confidence he had gained throughout his innings.
Kawle believes that Mulani’s commitment to spending time batting early in his career is paying off now. “He always had the mindset [when he was young]. Batting toh karna hee hai. He has saved so many games for Mumbai as well. You know how good the Mumbai batting lineup is. Still, he holds his own. He can bat at number three as if he is given the chance. The call is ultimately with the selectors and management. But he is as confident against the pacers as he is against the spinners,” says Kawle.
Mulani’s second-highest First-Class score of 92 runs came against a strong Saurashtra team when he was promoted to number four in 2022. This was the highest he has batted in his career. “If anyone asks me my favourite position to bat, I think it’s at number six. I’ve batted the most in my whole cricketing journey at number six. That gives me an ample amount of rest as well after a long spell of bowling. But if my team demands me to go up the order I don’t mind at all. Or if they want me at seven as a left-handed all-rounder. I’m not really much bothered about that,” says Mulani.
However, despite his impressive performances, Mulani faces stiff competition for a spot in the Indian team. Ravindra Jadeja has been a mainstay across formats, while Axar Patel is a strong contender for a place in the spin department. Other competitors include Sai Kishore, Manav Suthar, and Kuldeep Yadav, whose recent improved returns with unorthodox spin have further narrowed the window of opportunity. The fact that Mulani was not included in the Duleep Trophy squads for the first round, partly due to the inclusion of senior players, underscores the challenges he faces.
Despite the tough competition, Kawle remains confident that Mulani’s unwavering dedication will eventually lead him to success. “I always told all my kids at the academy that your time will come if you keep performing. Obviously, with the competition these days, it can take time to break in these days. But that competition is good. The same was the case with Shreyas Iyer [also Kawle’s student]. He had to perform consistently for very long to break in. That is good. The more he is required to perform, the stronger he will be. It helps in sustaining at that level. You have to perform till you get the call from the Indian team. I give him the example of Padmakar Shivalkar. He took nearly 600 wickets in First-Class cricket but still could not play for India,” says Kawle.
Mulani made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut at the age of 27 this year, missing out on the opportunities for rapid advancement that the tournament often provides. “Just because my red ball journey has taken a big leap in the last couple of years, sometimes it overshadows my white ball performances as well,” says Mulani. However, he remains satisfied with his progress in the shorter formats and believes he is ready to capitalize on any chance that comes his way.
“Mumbai is one of the toughest teams in India to be a part of, and playing white ball cricket for almost around six to seven years for Mumbai is itself a statement that I’ve done well in white ball. The first time I came into the Ranji Trophy they called me a white ball bowler. Now people talk about my red-ball skills more than my white-ball skills.
“So that transition has happened in the last two or three years but I’m working on both formats of the game and trying to improve each and every day, so that wherever the opportunity rises, I’m there to capitalize,” says Mulani.
