Johannesburg: For Richard Levi, Sachin Tendulakar has been his idol and now after being wrapped in by Mumbai Indians, the South African new T20 sensation can’t wait to play alongside the master. Levi, who went unnoticed at the IPL V auction, caught everybody’s attention after he hit the fastest T20 hundred (51 balls, including 13 sixes) for the Proteas against New Zealand.

Levi said that he was eagerly waiting for the league to start as he was too excited to share the dressing room with the legend.  "Sachin Tendulkar has been a childhood hero and it will be exciting to share the dressing room with him," Levi said after his agent Arthur Turner confirmed that he has signed to play for the Mumbai Indians in the 2012 Indian premier League.

"I have heard from friends that Mumbai Indians is like an extended family where the team shares a great bond and trusts youngsters," Levi said.

Cricket South Africa confirmed that Levi would become available for the Mumbai franchise once he completes his commitments to the Cobras in the MiWay T20 Challenge.