Muthiah Muralitharan, the world's joint leading Test wicket-taker, became the first Sri Lankan to sign with an India-based company when he joined hands with Showdiff Worldwide to "explore commercial interests".

The always-smiling off-spinner is expected to be a huge draw for Indian sponsors given his remarkable successes in the face of adversity, former India all-rounder and vice-chairman of Showdiff Worldwide Ravi Shastri said in a statement in Mumbai on Friday.

He said a number of leading cricketers, including former Aussie skipper Steve Waugh and present captain Ricky Ponting, Aussie pace bowlers Brett Lee and Stephen Fleming and Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar are already promoting various Indian products, but Muralitharan is the first Sri Lanka player to sign up with an Indian company.

"As is the case with sportsmen representing their country, our schedules leave us with very little time for anything other than the sports we pursue. India is a huge market with multiple opportunities and I had been looking at options which would benefit me," Muralitharan said in the same statement.

"Showdiff Worldwide has an all-India presence, which would help me reach out to markets across the country. When Ravi [Shastri] discussed the option of Showdiff handling my commercial interests I was only too glad to sign," he said.

The off-spinner jointly holds the world record of 527 Test wickets with Aussie leg spinner Shane Warne.