Shivang Kumar’s entry into the IPL does not follow the tidy template of an uninterrupted climb. The 23-year-old spinner from Moradabad finally made his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this season, but the route there has been shaped by risk-taking, setbacks, and an unexpected spark drawn from a film centred on MS Dhoni.
Quick facts
- Shivang Kumar is a 23-year-old spinner from Moradabad.
- He debuted for Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this season.
- He was bought for Rs 30 lakh in the 2026 mini auction.
- His father, Praveen Kumar, is a Chief Ticket Inspector and a former Bengal Ranji cricketer.
- Although he is right-handed, he was trained as a left-arm wrist spinner.
- He spent five months away from cricket after failing to make an Under-14 team.
- He watched MS Dhoni: The Untold Story and credited it with helping him return.
- In domestic cricket, he took 10 wickets in three matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
- He recorded a five-wicket haul against Karnataka.
- In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, his best T20 spell was 3/25.
- He attended trials for multiple franchises and missed a couple of Sunrisers Hyderabad chances due to scheduling issues.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad later re-picked him at the auction at base price.
Selected for Rs 30 lakh in the 2026 mini auction, Shivang’s breakthrough did not arrive as a straight line. His story begins in the railway colony of Harthala, where his father, Praveen Kumar, took on the role of coach and mentor. Praveen is not only a Chief Ticket Inspector, but also a former Bengal Ranji cricketer, and he steered his son’s development with a willingness to challenge convention.
One decision in particular altered Shivang’s cricketing identity. Even though he is right-handed, he was trained to bowl as a left-arm wrist spinner. Shivang later described this bold transformation as his father’s “masterpiece,” underscoring how quickly a single change in approach can redirect an entire career.
A pause that nearly ended the dream
Like many youngsters, Shivang’s path also included uncertainty. After failing to secure a spot in an Under-14 team, he stepped away from cricket for five months, convinced the opportunity had already slipped away. For a player at an early stage, that kind of break can be career-ending—but in his case, it became the prelude to a comeback.
The moment he returned mentally came from an unlikely place. Watching MS Dhoni: The Untold Story helped him reconsider quitting. The film’s focus on Dhoni’s struggles and rise landed with him, giving Shivang a renewed reason to go back and try again.
That inspiration was not unique to Shivang. Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has spoken about a similar trigger, stating that he returned to cricket after watching the same Dhoni movie. Tariq said he felt the stories were similar and that he came back to the sport “just because of MS Dhoni.”
Domestic impact turns into IPL attention
Once Shivang re-entered the grind, he leaned on performances to make noise. In domestic cricket, he drew attention with a strong showing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he finished with 10 wickets across three matches. A five-wicket haul against Karnataka then became the sort of standout spell that turns selectors and scouts from observers into believers.
His T20 form offered a further clue about his suitability for shorter formats. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he produced his best spell of 3/25, showing he could strike in the rhythm of the game rather than just survive it. Those displays ultimately helped open doors for IPL conversations, though the road was not smooth.
Even with momentum, Shivang experienced frustration while chasing opportunities. He attended trials for multiple franchises and, despite being in the mix for Sunrisers Hyderabad, missed out on a couple of chances because of scheduling issues. It was a setback, but it did not erase the interest.
Sunrisers Hyderabad eventually brought him back into the picture. They returned to the auction and secured him at base price, giving him the break he had been aiming for. For Shivang, the IPL debut is the payoff to a journey that included reinvention, a long pause, and a comeback fuelled by Dhoni’s story.
