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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 in 2026 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), reveals that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is his favorite team in the league.
When the bowling line-up of the Sunrisers Hyderabad was surrounded by multiple questions during the absence of their skipper and Pat Cummins, the newcomer stepped in and delivered some brilliant overs.
Shivang Kumar was one of the best emerging spinners in IPL 2026
With Shivang Kumar on their side, SRH managed to reach the playoffs. The emerging spinner took a crucial role in promising campaign of the Sunirers Huderabsd. Kumar claimed 9 wickets in 13 matches and as many innings with an economy rate of 9.61 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 also hails from Madhya Pradesh, so the young spinner finds it easy to connect with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. As the legend of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli is among the most influential figures in the cricket world.
“I was an RCB fan because Rajat Bhaiya was in the team & Virat Kohli also played for them. That’s why I’ve always been an RCB supporter,” Shivang Kumar said.
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 his Under-23 days, he discovered his leg-spin bowling abilities coming out nicely. After receiving multiple pieces of advice, he polished his skill set, and now, he is a spinner.
“When I was playing U-23, my leg spin was coming out well, and a lot of people around me also encouraged me, saying, ‘ You can try this, and that I could bowl a good ball to lefties. So, from there, I felt that if I could do this, then it would be very effective,” Shivang told Cricbuzz.
“I was practicing it [left-arm wrist spin] for a long time. It so happens that left-arm spinners don’t get to bowl to left-handed batters,” he added.
Why did he add carrom ball to his arsenal?
He was determined to break the jinx. Shivang Kumar wanted to be effective against the left-handed batters as well. So, as an extra tool under his belt. Kumar added the carrom ball variety.
Teams use this match-up. If a left-handed batter comes in, then teams don’t want to bowl a left-arm spinner. I recognised this pattern in the IPL. And even in junior cricket, I used to feel that when a lefty batter comes in, a left-arm spinner doesn’t bowl.” Shivang Kumar said.
“So I felt that I had to at least develop a carrom ball. There should be an outgoing delivery (to the left-handers). So that they also have some fear of getting out and realise that this bowler has another trick. It started from there.”
