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Shivang Kumar, a 23-year-old right-handed batter and left-arm wrist spinner, hails from Harthala Railway Colony in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Born on May 26, 2002, he represents Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and brings all-round value with his clever variations and handy lower-order batting.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's Shivang Kumar celebrates the wicket of Chennai Super Kings' Dewald Brevis during the Indian Premier League 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, in Hyderabad on Saturday.(ANI Picture Service)Shivang Kumar, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) promising young left-arm wrist spinner, produced a game-changing moment in the IPL 2026 Southern Derby against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Bowling a well-disguised googly, he dismissed the dangerous Dewald Brevis for duck at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, helping SRH seize control during the chase.
The decisive moment against Dewald Brevis
In today’s Southern Derby, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and chose to field first. SRH posted a competitive 194/9, powered by explosive knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen. Shivang contributed a quick 12 off 8 balls, including a six, in the lower order.
During the CSK chase, Kumar was introduced in the middle overs. On the fourth ball of his over at the 11.4 mark, he tossed up a delivery on off stump. Brevis’s eyes lit up as he stepped forward to loft it over the boundary. However, he failed to get the timing right. The ball came off the bottom of the bat, slicing across with lots of height but no real distance. It was a googly, and Liam Livingstone completed an easy catch at long-off. Brevis departed for 0 off 4 balls with CSK at 113/5.
Kumar’s over was tight, conceding just three runs while breaking a promising partnership. This breakthrough shifted the momentum firmly in SRH’s favour in the intense clash.
Who is Shivang Kumar? From Moradabad railway colony to IPL spotlight
Shivang Kumar, a 23-year-old right-handed batter and left-arm wrist spinner, hails from Harthala Railway Colony in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Born on May 26, 2002, he represents Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and brings all-round value with his clever variations and handy lower-order batting.
His father, Praveen Kumar, a Chief Ticket Inspector (TTE) with Indian Railways and a former Bengal Ranji player, played a pivotal role in shaping his career. Praveen made a bold decision to convert Shivang from right-arm bowling to left-arm wrist spin. Shivang later described this move as his father’s “masterpiece.”
As a youngster, Shivang spent hours imitating spinners like Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav. His journey faced a major setback when he failed to make the Under-14 team and quit cricket for five months. The turning point came when his brother convinced him to watch the movie *MS Dhoni: The Untold Story*. Inspired by Dhoni’s struggles and success, Shivang returned to the game with renewed passion and determination.
He trained rigorously under his father’s guidance, even in Rewa, a region known more for fast bowlers. Before the 2026 mini-auction, Shivang attended trials with several franchises, including Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals. SRH had shown early interest but faced scheduling hurdles. Finally, Sunrisers Hyderabad signed the uncapped talent for his base price of ₹30 lakh.
Shivang Kumar’s domestic record and IPL entry
Despite limited senior cricket, only four T20 matches and three List A games, Shivang has impressed selectors. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he picked up 10 wickets in three matches at an impressive economy of 5.16. His highlight was a brilliant 5/45 against Karnataka in Ahmedabad. He also scored a composed 67 off 69 balls against Jharkhand.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he claimed a best of 3/25 against Bihar. Shivang made his IPL debut for SRH against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 2 at Eden Gardens.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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