South Africa Twenty20 batting sensation Richard Levi will play for Mumbai Indians in the 2012 Indian Premier League, according to reports Monday. Levi, who scored the fastest T20 international century last Sunday in New Zealand, told national news agency Sapa he was looking forward to sharing a dressing room with childhood hero Sachin Tendulkar.
The opener from the Cape Town-based Cobras franchise replaces Australian Andrew Symonds, who cited family reasons for his retirement from professional cricket this month. Levi created T20 history eight days ago with an unbeaten 117 against New Zealand in Hamilton - his 45-ball century was the fastest in an international and included a record 13 sixes.
The total of the 24-year-old South African also equalled the highest scored in a T20 international, matching the mark set by Chris Gayle of the West Indies against South Africa five years ago. He has been unable to match his New Zealand exploits since returning to the Cobras, making three against Highveld Lions and 19 against Coastal Dolphins in the national T20 championship at the weekend.