Madhya Pradesh spinner shivang kumar made his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 2, 2026 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The 23-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner was signed by SRH for Rs 30 lakh and was drafted into the XI after pacer Eshan Malinga’s expensive outing in SRH’s opener. Coaches will assess his left-arm wrist spin and lower-order batting as SRH balance their squad.
Shivang Kumar: Debut details and match impact
Shivang Kumar entered the playing XI as a tactical change; SRH replaced pace with spin after Eshan Malinga conceded 35 runs in two overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening game. He batted in the final over, hitting a four off his first ball from Blessing Muzarabani before being out next delivery. His domestic T20 ledger lists four wickets in four matches at an economy of 8. 05; his best recorded T20 figures, 4-0-25-3, came against Bihar at Eden Gardens in the previous Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Those 4-0-25-3 figures are the standout entry in shivang kumar’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy record.
Immediate reactions
“I had heard a few things about it – like when people saw it, they said I gave up on cricket too soon, ” said Shivang Kumar, bowling all-rounder for Sunrisers Hyderabad. “When my brother told me to watch the movie, saying that it is a very well-made film and has an inspiring story, I went to watch it and took a lot of inspiration. ”
He described his father’s decision to convert him from a right-arm bowler into a left-arm spinner as a turning point: ‘That was my father’s masterpiece, ‘ Shivang Kumar added, crediting Praveen Kumar, a Railways employee and former Bengal Ranji cricketer.
Path to the IPL and domestic form
Shivang Kumar caught selectors’ eyes in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he took 10 wickets in three matches at an economy rate of 5. 16 and produced a maiden five-wicket haul in a win over Karnataka in Ahmedabad. That Vijay Hazare spell firmly placed shivang kumar on selectors’ radar.
He also showed batting promise with a patient 69-ball 67 against Jharkhand and a 28-ball 45 in his first senior T20 appearance — performances that underpinned SRH’s interest. Ahead of the auction he attended trials with Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals and received encouraging feedback; Sunrisers Hyderabad had invited him twice but scheduling clashes with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy prevented attendance.
Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for Rs 30 lakh at last year’s mini auction; his Madhya Pradesh teammate Aniket Verma’s presence at SRH helped convince him the IPL breakthrough was possible, Shivang Kumar has said. Trials with multiple franchises and positive feedback underlined shivang kumar’s ascent.
Filed 10: 19 AM ET on April 2, 2026. Selectors will monitor shivang kumar closely as the tournament progresses; rotation, matchups and his ability to contain the run rate will determine whether he secures more opportunities in this IPL season.
