NEW DELHI: Shivang Kumar’s journey to the IPL isn’t the usual story of a smooth rise through the ranks. The 23-year-old spinner from Moradabad made his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this season, but what makes his story stand out is a mix of bold decisions, setbacks, and a surprising source of inspiration, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.Picked for Rs 30 lakh in the 2026 mini auction, Shivang’s breakthrough didn’t happen overnight.
It began in the railway colony of Harthala, where his father, Praveen Kumar, a Chief Ticket Inspector and former Bengal Ranji cricketer, took charge of his training. One unconventional move changed everything: despite being right-handed, Shivang was turned into a left-arm wrist spinner. He later described this bold switch as his father’s “masterpiece.”
A tough pause and a turning point
Like many young cricketers, Shivang’s path wasn’t without doubt. After failing to make an Under-14 team, he stepped away from cricket for five months, convinced his journey had hit a dead end. The break could have ended his career before it truly began.But a film changed his mindset. Watching MS Dhoni: The Untold Story pushed him to reconsider quitting. The story of Dhoni’s struggles and rise struck a chord, helping Shivang return to the game with renewed determination.Interestingly, his story mirrors that of Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq, who also found inspiration in the same film. Tariq said, “I came back to cricket after watching the MS Dhoni movie. After watching that movie, I felt our stories were similar… I came back to cricket just because of MS Dhoni.”
Performances that opened doors
Once back, Shivang let his performances do the talking. He impressed in domestic cricket, including a standout Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign where he picked up 10 wickets in just three matches. A five-wicket haul against Karnataka proved to be a defining moment, putting him firmly on the radar of IPL scouts.In T20 cricket too, he showed promise with a best spell of 3/25 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. These performances eventually led to IPL opportunities, though not without frustration. He attended trials for multiple franchises and even missed a couple of chances with Sunrisers Hyderabad due to scheduling issues.Yet, SRH didn’t forget him. They returned at the auction and secured him at base price, finally giving him the break he had been waiting for.
