New Delhi: Praveen Kumar, Chief Inspector of Ticket (CIT) with Indian Railways, was in the middle of juggling duty and family moments when he offered a quick promise to a fellow traveller. “I need to catch the Shramjeevi Express to Patna. My train leaves in an hour from Platform 8, but I can spare you about ten minutes,” he said. For Praveen, the timetable of trains and the timetable of cricket have both shaped the same goal — helping his son Shivang Kumar reach the highest level.
Railway inspector to cricket mentor
A former Bengal Under-19 cricketer, Praveen has spent 34 years working with Indian Railways and credits that long journey with playing a defining role in his son’s path. Shivang is currently representing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), and the father’s influence has been constant — from early encouragement to a more hands-on approach once Shivang began to turn into something special.
Praveen recalls a family trip to Vrindavan where a saint made a prediction. “When Shivang was around eight, a saint told us he would fulfil my unfulfilled dreams. I assumed he meant money, so I tried giving him Rs 50. He refused and said, ‘Aapka naam raushan karega ye ladka’ — this boy will make you proud,” Praveen remembers.
That prophecy, in his view, has started coming true. “I have been taking him to the stadium since he was five,” he said. “I carried both my sons, Shivang and Devang, with me. I never forced them, but I always prayed that the cricketing gods would let me live my dream through my children. It is all God’s plan.”
After his own stint with Bengal Under-19 and the moment his name surfaced among Ranji Trophy probables, Praveen returned home to Moradabad to seek his parents’ blessings — only for life to take a different direction. “I was offered a job in the Railways under the sports quota. My mother told me I was acting ungratefully, like I was striking a heavy thali with my foot. I accepted the role and left cricket,” he explained.
Shivang’s rise with Sunrisers Hyderabad
Praveen believes that even career choices in the family have been guided by timing and conviction. “Two months ago, when Shivang was offered a Railways job, he decided to make a stand,” he said. “I told him, ‘Maine bola goli maaro naukari ko aur cricket pe dhyan do’ — forget the job and focus on cricket.”
Today, Shivang’s IPL impact has turned heads. He has taken six wickets from eight matches, with his best figures reading 3/33 against Punjab Kings on April 11.
- Shivang Kumar is playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
- He has 6 wickets in 8 IPL matches.
- His best IPL figures are 3/33, recorded against Punjab Kings on April 11.
The accidental spinner: from batter to wrist-spin
While Shivang’s early profile was shaped around batting, Praveen says he had a frank conversation with him about the likely ceiling as a batter — especially in the context of Madhya Pradesh selection, the IPL, and even Team India. “As a batter, he would not get picked for Madhya Pradesh, let alone the IPL or the national team,” Praveen said. The message shook Shivang, but the young player trusted the plan his father laid out.
Until the previous year, Shivang had largely been seen as a top-order batter. His performances for Bhopal Leopards in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League brought him into focus. Then the left-arm wrist-spin skill began to add a new dimension to his value.
That shift helped him earn a marquee role with Bundelkhand Bulls for Rs 13 lakh in the 2026 season. Alongside that, IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad contacted him for trials.
On the domestic circuit, Shivang also built his case in List A and T20 matches for Madhya Pradesh. In three List A fixtures, he took ten wickets, including a five-wicket haul versus Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he claimed eight wickets across as many matches and impressed scouts with his variations and craft.
Eventually, SRH picked him in the IPL auction.
How the “chinaman” decision was made
Praveen describes the turning point as something that happened during a calm evening at home. “It was late in the day and we were having tea in our courtyard in Moradabad,” he said. “I told him he needed to do something different. He was a left-arm spinner and also an opener. But in the state and in IPL setups, the opening slot is already crowded. With the way pitches are being prepared now, left-arm spin was not getting much use.”
So Praveen gave him a different instruction. “I handed him the ball and asked him to bowl a chinaman. The ball spun. I am a left-arm wrist-spinner myself, so I showed him the grip for the googly and the leg-break. He executed it perfectly,” Praveen added.
Once father and son reached the nearest ground, Praveen recorded Shivang’s bowling on video while Shivang delivered. After analysing the footage, Praveen felt confident — but insisted on structure. “The revs on the ball were amazing. The wrong’un was excellent. I told him that if he followed a schedule and worked accordingly, I would map his progress. For the next three months, he bowled 25 overs each day at a single stump. He was ready,” Praveen said.
Coach’s faith and a complete role change
During the MPL, when Shivang joined Bhopal Leopards, their coach Devendra Bundela — who had originally selected him as a batter — noticed the wrist-spin potential. “I told him that no matter how many runs he conceded in the MPL, he would bowl wrist-spin,” Bundela said. “It was a miracle. I still can’t believe it.”
Bundela highlighted the transformation: “Shivang was always an opening batter. What kind of change he has gone through — it has been remarkable,” he said. Bundela is a former Madhya Pradesh captain who has played 164 first-class matches.
MS Dhoni inspiration and resilience
Praveen also talked about the mental hurdles Shivang faced while growing up. Like many athletes, it was not straightforward for him to keep believing. At 13, after not being selected for the Uttar Pradesh Under-14 and Under-16 squads during trials at Kamla Club in Kanpur, Shivang decided to pause cricket.
According to Praveen, the disappointed Shivang asked his father to store his kit away. “He wanted to focus on studies,” Praveen said. Shivang’s own words reflect the pressure of early setbacks. “Yeh U-14, U-16 ke chakkar mein marks kam aa rahe hain, cricket ab rehne dete hain. Padh leta hoon, shayad kuch ban jaun” — the message was clear: his marks were suffering, so he thought of stepping back and hoping to become something by continuing education.
Praveen insisted he did not want to force him either. “I did not want to press him, so I made peace with it,” he said.
A year later, Shivang and friends went to watch a film about MS Dhoni in a theatre. When they returned, Shivang sounded more determined. “He came back and said, ‘Papa, lagta hai badi jaldi haar maan gaye’ — I think I gave up too early,” Praveen said. Shivang’s renewal, in Praveen’s account, was immediate.
The next day, Praveen watched the movie as well. “I came out in tears after watching it,” he said. “I remembered my days — how I used to travel in general compartments for a day to reach Calcutta. It made me emotional. When I returned, I told him to pack his bags and kit because we would leave for Gwalior the next morning.”
In Gwalior, Praveen took Shivang to Tansen Cricket Academy. The coach needed an opening partner for a Under-16 tournament in Bhopal, and Praveen says the opportunity aligned perfectly. “Shivang’s opening partner was Priyansh Arya,” Praveen laughed. “In that match, Priyansh scored 180 and Shivang made 160,” he added.
From that point onward, Shivang “never looked back,” and neither did Praveen. Even though Praveen has not yet seen his son play live in a stadium, he does not sound worried. “My first duty is the Indian Railways. It has given me everything. If I get leave, I will go and watch him play. Until then, I have more serious responsibilities on my shoulders,” he signed off — with the Shramjeevi Express still set to depart from Platform 8 in about 45 minutes.
