New Delhi, October 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Madhya Pradesh bowling all-rounder Shivang Kumar has set his sights on playing for India after an impressive debut IPL season and strong performances in domestic cricket.
The left-arm wrist-spinner claimed nine wickets in 13 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 and was recently part of the Indian Test squad as a net bowler for the one-off Test against Afghanistan and the subsequent series in Sri Lanka.
However, Shivang said representing India remains his ultimate ambition.
“It feels good, but right now I am not dwelling on the fact that I have played in the IPL and have served as India’s net bowler,” Shivang said, as quoted by Cricinfo.
“IPL is not the ultimate goal; India is the ultimate goal. There is still a long way to go, a lot of cricket to play. This was just the first season, and it was only the beginning,” he added.
Shivang said he received early indications during Sunrisers Hyderabad’s pre-season camp that he would be given a regular opportunity during the season.
“The coaches were discussing strategies with me, setting up different scenarios for my bowling, and even telling me, ‘you are our wicket-taker.’ I had done well in the practice matches too, so I knew I would get an opportunity,” he said.
Although he missed the opening match, Shivang became a regular from the second game onwards. He endured a difficult start to his IPL career but made an impact in his third match against Punjab Kings with crucial wickets.
The 22-year-old credited the SRH management for backing him and helping him develop confidence at the highest level.
“The team management was very positive and confident that I would do well. Because of their confidence, I developed the self-belief that I could perform well even at this level,” he said.
Shivang also highlighted the support he received from head coach Daniel Vettori and bowling coach Varun Aaron.
Vettori, himself a former left-arm spinner, helped him maintain perspective during difficult spells. Shivang recalled how the former New Zealand captain would encourage him during strategic timeouts when he went wicketless or conceded runs.
Aaron, meanwhile, ensured that Shivang remained positive after expensive outings and reminded him that he was capable of performing at a higher level.
“When a player who has represented the country in Test cricket tells you things like that, it gives you a massive boost,” Shivang said of Aaron’s encouragement.
Apart from his bowling, Shivang is also keen to establish himself as a batting all-rounder. He began his cricket career as a batter and said he wants to demonstrate his ability with the bat.
He did not get many opportunities to bat for SRH because of their deep batting line-up, but he has made an impact in the ongoing Madhya Pradesh Premier League, where he has a strike rate of 180.22.
“I want to show the world that I can bat. I started my cricket career purely as a batter. SRH’s batting line-up is so deep that I barely got a chance. But they know my batting capabilities, and they encourage me too,” he said.
FOLLOW NOW
