Who is Shivang Kumar, Madhya Pradesh spinner bought by SRH?

Who is Shivang Kumar? The Madhya Pradesh spinner bought by SRH who took 5-45 vs Karnataka to seal MP’s quarter-final spot in VHT 2025-26.

Shivang Kumar, the 23-year-old left-arm wrist spinner from Madhya Pradesh, has emerged as one of Indian cricket’s most exciting uncapped prospects after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured him as their first buy at the IPL 2026 auction for his base price of Rs 30 lakh.

This all-rounder, celebrated for his mystery spin variations and gritty lower-order batting, turned heads with a match-defining five-wicket haul against Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, propelling MP into the quarterfinals. His rapid ascent from Moradabad’s local circuits to IPL spotlight underscores SRH’s sharp scouting eye for rare talents who can turn games on spin-friendly tracks.

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Roots in Moradabad
Born on May 26, 2002, in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, a city that has produced cricketers like Mohammed Shami and Piyush Chawla, Shivang was raised in a cricket-centric household. His father, Praveen Kumar, a former Bengal Ranji Trophy player and a railway official, became his first coach, instilling in him discipline and technique from the age of six.

Shivang grew up idolising Kuldeep Yadav, spending countless hours honing his wrist-spin in neighbourhood maidans and club fixtures for the Moradabad Cricket Association. A right-handed batter and left-arm wrist-spinner, he stood out early, even claiming hat-tricks in under-13 tournaments, which earned him a move to Madhya Pradesh’s age-group system by the under-16 level. It was a period that blended raw talent with a rapidly maturing cricketing brain.

His club cricket in Moradabad further sharpened his craft. Shivang dominated local leagues with deceptive googlies and sharp turns, regularly outfoxing more experienced batters. Seeking stronger competition and exposure, he relocated to Indore, where he broke into Madhya Pradesh’s under-19 side, impressing in trials with economical spells and handy lower-order runs.

Shivang made his first-class debut in the 2023–24 Ranji Trophy, while his List-A debut came on March 1, 2021, against Uttar Pradesh. Although early opportunities were limited due to fierce competition, he showed glimpses of his potential, including a crucial 30-odd down the order. The real turning point came in the T20 circuit, where his growing repertoire of wrist-spin variations began troubling established domestic batters, laying the groundwork for the breakthrough performances that would soon follow.

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MPL and SMAT surge
The Madhya Pradesh Premier League (MPL) 2025 proved to be Shivang’s launchpad. Donning Bhopal Leopards colours, he unleashed a sensational 91 off 42 balls, replete with audacious ramps and pulls, while chipping in with 1-28 against Bundelkhand Bulls, showcasing all-round depth.

This form translated seamlessly to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26, where his debut against Hyderabad yielded 45 runs, followed by a probing 3-25 versus Bihar. In limited T20s for MP, he maintained an economy under 7, mixing straight ones with disguised googlies.

Shivang Kumar Vijay Hazare masterclass
Shivang’s stock skyrocketed in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy. In just three List A matches, the 23-year-old claimed 10 wickets at an average below 20, peaking with a career-best 5/45 against Karnataka on January 8 in Ahmedabad. Bowling unchanged for 10 overs, he dismantled Ravi Samarth, Srijith, and the middle order on a turning track, bundling Karnataka for 207 as MP chased victory to snatch a quarterfinal berth from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

His hand concealment, sharp drift, and variations, straighteners evading sweeps, googlies castling batters, and undersells his wrist-spin wizardry. His composure under pressure, with MP reeling earlier, highlighted a big-match mentality.

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Mystery spinner’s arsenal
Shivang Kumar defies the slow left-arm orthodox label; he’s a bona fide left-arm wrist spinner, releasing from a slingshot action that hides revolutions. His toolkit includes vicious googlies skidding straight, leg-breaks gripping viciously, and flippers rushing batters, tactics that foxed Karnataka’s stars.

Batting right-handed at No. 7-8, he’s no mug either: a match-winning 67 off 69 against Jharkhand in Ranji, plus T20 cameos, add utility. At 23, he’s the “mystery spinner” every T20 side craves.

At the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, SRH coach Daniel Vettori prioritised spin depth, snapping Shivang first at base price amid a star-heavy pool. With Pat Cummins’ side eyeing subcontinental success, his domestic blitz, SMAT economy, MPL fireworks, and Vijay Hazare fifer filled the void for an uncapped trickster.

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