Chandan Madan bags Mumbai Indians contract

Chandan Madan, the Punjab wicketkeeper-batsman, has been rewarded with an IPL contract with the Mumbai Indians after his Man-of-the-Series performance in the recent BCCI Corporate Trophy.

Madan, 26, opened the batting for Air India Blue and was instrumental in taking them to the finals, making two half-centuries and a 114 in his three innings to top the tournament scoring chart.

"I am really excited to be in the same team which has great players like Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasurya," Madan told the Indian Express. "The Corporate tournament was such a big platform for a cricketer like me. It featured big names and even the national selectors were watching the players."

Madan has had a stop-start first-class career with Punjab, playing only 13 matches despite making his debut in 2003. "I owe my success to Bhajji paaji [Harbhajan Singh, who captained Air India Blue] who asked me to believe in my abilities and play my natural game," he said. "The IPL contract is the icing on the cake for me."

Another big-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman, Indian captain MS Dhoni, was among Madan's team-mates in the Corporate Trophy. "Dhoni said I was hitting the ball well and he praised my batting," Madan said. "Coming from the Indian skipper, someone who is himself a big hitter, it will give me confidence to look ahead."