Left arm wrist spinners are a rare breed in Indian cricket. Left arm wrist spinners who can also bat are even rarer. Shivang Kumar from Madhya Pradesh is both, and he announced himself on the biggest stage with an IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on April 2, 2026.
Picked for just Rs 30 lakh at the mini auction, the 23 year old justified his selection as SRH won by 65 runs. His delivery created the crucial run out of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who had scored 52 off 29 balls, triggering a mix up between Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh that turned the match on its head.
Stand in captain Ishan Kishan praised the debutant’s “big heart” despite conceding 41 runs in four overs, pointing out that bowling to Rinku Singh at Eden Gardens takes courage that stats alone cannot measure.
Shivang Kumar: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Age | 23 years |
| Born | Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh |
| Role | Left arm wrist spinner, lower order batter |
| Domestic Team | Madhya Pradesh |
| IPL Team (2026) | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| IPL Price | Rs 30 lakh (base price) |
| IPL Debut | April 2, 2026 vs KKR at Eden Gardens |
From Moradabad’s Railway Colony to SRH’s Playing XI
Shivang’s story begins in Harthala Railway Colony in Moradabad, where his father Praveen Kumar worked as a Chief Ticket Inspector. However, Praveen was no ordinary railway employee. He was a former Bengal Ranji cricketer who took charge of his son’s cricket development from an early age.
The biggest turning point came when Praveen decided to convert Shivang from a right arm bowler to a left arm spinner, despite him being naturally right handed. Shivang later called this unconventional move his father’s “masterpiece.” As a child, he spent hours watching Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav, copying their variations in local matches across Moradabad and later in Rewa.
- Father: Praveen Kumar, former Bengal Ranji cricketer, Chief Ticket Inspector
- Hometown: Moradabad, later trained in Rewa (Madhya Pradesh)
- Key Decision: Converted from right arm to left arm spinner by his father
- Inspiration: Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav
The Five Month Break That Almost Ended Everything
Shivang’s journey was far from smooth. After failing to make the Under 14 team, he quit cricket entirely for five months. He was convinced he had reached a dead end and the sport had nothing left to offer him.
The comeback came from an unexpected source. After watching MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, encouraged by his brother, Shivang decided to give cricket one more chance. That decision changed his life forever. He returned to training with renewed focus and never looked back.
Domestic Cricket: Numbers That Caught SRH’s Eye
Despite playing only seven domestic matches before his IPL debut, Shivang’s performances were impossible to ignore. His Vijay Hazare Trophy numbers stood out the most, with 10 wickets in three matches at an economy of 5.16.
- Vijay Hazare Trophy: 10 wickets in 3 matches at 5.16 economy
- Best Bowling (List A): 5/45 vs Karnataka in Ahmedabad
- Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: 3/25 vs Bihar at Eden Gardens (best T20 spell)
- Batting Highlight: 67 off 69 balls vs Jharkhand in Vijay Hazare Trophy
- Total Domestic Matches: 4 T20s and 3 List A matches before IPL debut
The five wicket haul against Karnataka, one of India’s strongest domestic sides, became the defining moment that put Shivang on every IPL scout’s radar ahead of the 2026 auction.
The Road to SRH: Missed Trials and a Late Opening
Before the IPL 2026 auction, Shivang attended trials with multiple franchises including Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals. He received positive feedback from all of them. Additionally, Sunrisers Hyderabad had called him twice earlier, but scheduling clashes and a cancelled session meant he missed both opportunities.
Despite those setbacks, SRH returned for him at the auction and signed him at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. At that moment, very few people outside domestic cricket circles knew his name. The franchise’s scouting team clearly saw something special in the young left arm wrist spinner that others had overlooked.
Related Reads
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi IPL Price: Auction History & 2026 Salary
- Abhishek Sharma IPL Price, 2026 Salary & Auction History
IPL Debut at Eden Gardens: Big Heart on the Big Stage
Making your IPL debut at Eden Gardens against the 3 times champions is a trial by fire for any young spinner. Moreover, bowling to Rinku Singh, one of the most destructive finishers in the tournament, raises the difficulty level even further.
Shivang conceded 41 runs in his four overs at an economy of 10.25. On paper, those numbers look expensive. However, the context tells a completely different story. His delivery created the pivotal run out of Angkrish Raghuvanshi at 120/4 in the 11th over, breaking a dangerous partnership that had kept KKR in the chase of 227.
Ishan Kishan’s post match comments captured what the stats missed. The stand in captain specifically praised Shivang’s “big heart,” pointing out that despite Rinku Singh smacking him for boundaries, the debutant never lost his nerve and kept bowling with intent.
