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Shivang Kumar was one of the most highly-rated emerging bowlers in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). The left-arm wrist spinner from Madhya Pradesh, who made his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2026, revealed that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is his favorite team in the league.
When Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling line-up was surrounded by many questions during the absence of its captain and Pat Cummins, the newcomer came forward and bowled some brilliant overs.
Shivang Kumar was one of the best emerging spinners in IPL 2026
With Shivang Kumar, SRH managed to reach the playoffs. The budding spinner played a key role in the Suns’ promising campaign. Kumar took 9 wickets at an economy rate of 9.61 in 13 matches and as many innings in the IPL 2026 season.
During a conversation with Sports Yaari, Shivang Kumar confessed that as a cricket fan, he is a fan because of Rajat Patidar and obviously Virat Kohli.
An easy connection between Kumar and Rajat Patidar
Like Kumar, Patidar is also from Madhya Pradesh, so the young spinner finds it easy to join Royal Challengers Bangalore. As an Indian cricket legend, Virat Kohli is one of the most influential figures in the cricket world.
Shivang Kumar said, “I was a fan of RCB because Rajat Bhaiya was in the team and Virat Kohli also played for them. So I have always been a supporter of RCB.”
Like many young Indian cricketers, Kumar used to bat a lot, but gradually, he started working more on his spin bowling abilities and now, he is an established chinaman spinner. During the IPL 2026 season, he said that during the Under-23 days, he found his leg-spin bowling abilities coming out well. After receiving a lot of advice, he honed his skills and now, he is a spinner.
“When I was playing Under-23, my leg spin was coming good and a lot of people around me also encouraged me, saying, ‘You can try this, and I can bowl well to lefties.’ So, from there I felt that if I could do that, it would be very effective,” Shivang told Cricbuzz.
“I was practicing it [left-arm wrist spin] For a long time. It happens that left-arm spinners do not get a chance to bowl to left-handed batsmen.”
Why did he include carrom ball in his arsenal?
He was determined to break this evil. Shivang Kumar wanted to be effective against left-handed batsmen also. So, as an extra tool under his belt. Kumar added a variation of carrom ball.
Teams use this match-up. If a left-handed batsman comes, teams do not want to bowl to a left-arm spinner. I recognized this pattern in IPL. And even in junior cricket, I used to think that when a lefty batsman comes, the left-arm spinner doesn’t bowl,” Shivang Kumar said.
“So I thought I have to at least develop a carrom ball. There should be an outgoing delivery (for left-handed batsmen). So that they also have some fear of getting out and they realize that this bowler has another trick up his sleeve. It started from there.”
