New Delhi, Dec 18 (digihunt)
For Madhya Pradesh’s left-arm wrist-spin all-rounder Shivang Kumar, a dream became reality as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) selected him in the IPL 2026 auction for his base price of Rs 30 lakh.
A Reunion with a Dear Friend
Shivang’s move to SRH also brings him back together with his best friend and Madhya Pradesh teammate Aniket Verma, who stood out for the franchise during a disappointing 2025 season. “First of all, I am very excited to play for SRH. It’s a team of my teammate and best friend Aniket Verma. With me now going to his team, there is also this excitement feeling because I told him last year that if you get selected, then I will also get selected in it,” he shared in an exclusive conversation with digihunt.
Shivang, 23, had trials with various franchises prior to the auction, fueling his belief that he would make his IPL debut. “Before the auction, I went to trials of Punjab Kings, Mumbai Inddigihunt and Rajasthan Royals. So, I got a good response from them. SRH also called me twice, but unfortunately, I could not go as at that time, I was in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The other time, it got cancelled for some reason. But the trials were quite good and there was a good response everywhere. SRH showed their trust in me and I am feeling good.”
Pursuit of the Indian Dream
Shivang views his participation in IPL 2026 as the first step towards achieving his ultimate goal: playing for India. “IPL is a launching pad for an uncapped player to the Indian team. So, as per my skills, I think SRH will like me a lot. I do both batting and bowling, so I can be very useful for the team. I have heard a lot about Murali sir (Muttiah Muralitharan). He talks a lot about cricket. So, it will be good to talk to him as well because I also talk mainly about cricket,” he added.
Shivang also finds Aniket a significant source of motivation. “Because of Aniket, we felt that we can also do well at this level. Aniket’s season was very good, and he played well in SRH for 2-3 innings. So, we also believe that we can also do well at the top.”
Experience from the Madhya Pradesh Premier League
He emphasized the importance of the Madhya Pradesh Premier League for his growth. “The player gets a lot of experience and exposure there on how he will play internationally. The world also watches him – whatever he does, good or bad. So, it is also a benefit that we learn how to deal with it.”
A Supportive Family Background
Growing up in Rewa, home to renowned pacers Kuldeep Sen and Ishwar Pandey, Shivang was introduced to cricket by his father, Praveen Kumar, a Chief Ticket Inspector in the Railways currently based in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Praveen, who played cricket in Bengal, including in the Ranji Trophy, had dreams of representing India himself. “We used to practice cricket in our MPCA camps in Indore. When I was 22, I went to Rewa. Before that, I used to play in the Gwalior division. Rewa supported me a lot and it was an opportunity for me.”
“My father put me into playing cricket. He also had a dream that my child should play for India. This dream has been passed on to me. Hopefully, I will be able to fulfill his dream,” he reflected.
A Joyful Family Moment
Shivang’s selection by SRH filled Praveen with joy. “My father is a very positive person. He was like, ‘Okay, beta, you have been selected. So, learn and go upwards from here. Your ultimate goal is to play for India’. He was also very happy that I was selected for SRH, which is known for a lot of power hitters and their fearless approach.”
From Right-Handed to Left-Handed
It was Praveen, Shivang’s first coach, who transformed him from a right-handed bowler into a left-arm spinner. “He taught me batting and actually, I bowled right handed. But he made me a lefty bowler. After I started my cricket under him, I found my way through MP and MPCA supported me a lot.”
Inspiration from MS Dhoni
The pivotal moment in Shivang’s cricketing journey came with the MS Dhoni biopic. “When I didn’t get selected for the U-14 team, I decided to leave cricket for 5 months. Luckily, I got a chance to watch the movie on MS Dhoni. I took a lot of inspiration from Dhoni sir. It made me realize that his life had a lot of struggles and I gave up too fast. I re-started playing cricket and scored 98 in the first match.”
A Dream to Meet His Idol
Meeting his idol Dhoni tops Shivang’s bucket list. “It is every youngster’s dream to meet Dhoni sir, especially during a match in Chepauk. The atmosphere is different. When he enters, I want to experience that.”
A Promising Debut
Shivang made an impact in the Madhya Pradesh T20 league and debuted in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Hyderabad, scoring a crucial 45. “But I didn’t get a wicket in that game. After going wicketless, I spoke to Venkatesh Iyer, who motivated me a lot. I then took three wickets against Bihar, which felt good,” he noted.
Encouragement from Peers
Alongside Iyer, Shivang draws inspiration from RCB skipper and India batter Rajat Patidar. “Rajat bhaiya is especially an inspiration. His batting is world famous. Venky bhaiya has a positive attitude towards youngsters. He makes the environment casual, which helps us gel up with him.”
Looking Ahead to IPL 2026
With IPL just months away, Shivang is eager to challenge himself against international stars. “These are big matches and international players are present. I want to experience bowling to both international players and top domestic hitters.”
–digihunt
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