Big hitting South African batsman Richard Levi has been snapped up by the Mumbai Indians to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) in April.
He will play alongside his hero Sachin Tendulkar as well as South Africans Herschelle Gibbs and Robin Peterson.
“I have heard from friends that Mumbai Indians are like an extended family where the team shares a great bond and trusts youngsters,” he told ESPNcricinfo.
“Sachin Tendulkar has been my childhood hero and it would be exciting to share the dressing room with him.”
The Cobras' opener, who hit the headlines after scoring the fastest T20 international hundred against New Zealand recently, was previously unsold at the IPL auction on February 4, but after his dominant display in mid February, he was chosen as a replacement for Andrew Symonds.
The Australian allrounder announced his retirement from professional cricket earlier this month, citing family reasons.
Playing only his second 20-over international, Levi tore apart the Black Caps' bowling attack in Hamilton and reached his ton off just 45 balls.
He overshadowed the previous joint record holders, West Indian Chris Gayle and New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who had both needed 50 deliveries for their centuries.
Levi also set a record for the number of sixes in a T20I innings, clearing the boundary rope 13 times on his way to an unbeaten 118 off 52 balls.
Gayle held the previous record of 10 sixes in an innings.
The Proteas then coasted to an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand, with 24 balls to spare, to level the series Ä which they went on to win 2-1. – Sapa