Seven IPL seasons, a mere dozen games, that has been Anukul Roy’s story since making his debut in the IPL. But now, at 27, this Jharkhand all-rounder enters IPL 2026 on the back of a domestic season that turned everything.
Roy scored 300+ runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike rate of 160, got the Player of the Tournament award and after that he played Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign by scoring 49 runs at an average with the bat at a strike rate of more than 120.
Roy’s all-rounder capabilities could right now earn him a regular spot for the first time in the playing XI when KKR are struggling with Harshit Rana’s injury.
KKR’s Missing Piece: Why Anukul Roy’s Time Is Now
Kolkata Knight Riders are in a vulnerable position. Injuries have resulted in vacancies, most notably that of Harshit Rana. They want an all-rounder who can bat and bowl, and Roy knows what lies ahead.
The seven years spent in the IPL franchises have taught him silently and he has learnt stuff about Powerplay bowling left- right combinations early order batting.
Conversations with Narine brought clarity to his arm ball swing. Varun Chakaravarthy taught him how to bowl the backspin. Krunal Pandya dropped in some yorker-bowling advice. These small improvements have honed his game.
Roy has shed the tag of a fringe player at 27. He’s given himself a real chance. Time will tell if that leads to consistent performances. But for the first time in his IPL career, Anukul Roy isn’t just biding his time.
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From Fringe Player to Domestic Champion
Roy’s transformation began with a simple conversation. He approached Jharkhand management, requesting a higher batting position in the lineup. The shift proved transformative.
Batting up the order allowed him to influence games meaningfully. Rather than scrambling in the final overs, he could now bat 30-35 balls and dictate proceedings. The results spoke volumes. Roy scored over 300 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike rate of 160 and was named Player of the Tournament as Jharkhand claimed the title.
In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he averaged 49 with a strike rate exceeding 120. Consistency had finally replaced inconsistency.
Roy credits this clarity to honest conversations with his team. JSCA secretary Saurabh Tiwary advocated for the batting order change, while a chat with MS Dhoni reinforced the importance of domestic form. Dhoni’s words stayed with him throughout: perform consistently in domestic cricket, and IPL opportunities will follow.
