11 Shivang Kumar

A rising star in the Indian domestic circuit, Shivang Kumar (born May 26, 2002) is a unique “ambidextrous” talent who has quickly become a player to watch. While he is a natural right-hander for batting and daily activities, he is a specialist left-arm wrist-spin (chinaman) bowler—a rare breed in world cricket that offers immense tactical value.

As of January 21, 2026, Shivang Kumar is one of the most exciting new recruits for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Following a standout performance in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League, he was secured by the “Orange Army” for ₹30 Lakh during the December 2025 mini-auction for the IPL 2026 season.

Shivang Kumar: Player Profile & 2026 Career Outlook

The “Chinaman” Specialty

Shivang’s journey to the IPL is a story of successful transformation. Originally a right-arm bowler, he was encouraged by his father and first coach, Praveen Kumar, to switch to left-arm spin. This transition proved masterly; his ability to extract sharp turn and bounce as a left-arm wrist-spinner caught the eye of veteran scouts and even earned him public praise from Ravichandran Ashwin, who added Shivang to his “players to watch” list for 2026.

Domestic Breakthrough: Madhya Pradesh (2025)

Shivang announced his arrival on the big stage during the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT).

• The Debut: In his debut match against Hyderabad, he showcased his batting prowess with a gritty 45 off 28 balls.

• Wicket-Taking Ability: He followed up with a match-winning spell of 3/24 against Bihar, demonstrating his control and wicket-taking ability in the middle overs.

• The MP T20 League: His path to the state team was paved by a blistering 91 off just 42 balls for the Bhopal Leopards, a performance that highlighted his potential as a genuine power-hitting all-rounder.

IPL 2026: The SRH Strategic Buy

Sunrisers Hyderabad targeted Shivang as a “smart buy” to provide variety to their spin department. Joining a squad led by Pat Cummins, Shivang will be reunited with his close friend and MP teammate Aniket Verma. Within the SRH setup, he is viewed as a high-potential “Impact Player” who can stifle right-handed batters with his away-spinning deliveries and chip in with explosive runs at the back end of the innings.

Shivang Kumar: Career Statistics

Consolidated data as of January 21, 2026.

T20 Performance (Domestic + MP League)

Recent Form (January 2026)

• Vijay Hazare Trophy: Scored a vital 67 (69) against Jharkhand on January 5, 2026, proving his adaptability to the 50-over format.

• Ranji Trophy: Currently training with the Madhya Pradesh squad for the upcoming red-ball fixtures.