Shivanj Kumar (Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry photo)
New Delhi: Shivang Kumar’s journey to the Indian Premier League is not 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 combination 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 achievement did not happen overnight.
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It started in Harthala Railway Colony, where his father, Praveen Kumar, chief ticket inspector and former Bengal Ranji cricketer, took charge of his training. One unorthodox move changed everything: despite being right-handed, Shifang switched to a wrist-spinner with his left arm. He later described this bold switch as his father’s “masterpiece”.
A difficult pause and a turning point
Like many young cricketers, Shifang’s path was not without doubt. After failing to make the under-14 team, he walked away from cricket for five months, convinced his journey had reached a dead end. The break could have ended his career before it really began.But the movie changed his mentality. Watching MS Dhoni: The Untold Story made him reconsider quitting smoking. The story of Dhoni’s struggle and rise struck a chord, helping Shivang return to the game with renewed determination.
Interestingly, his story mirrors that of Pakistani spinner Usman Tariq, who also found inspiration in the same film. Tariq said: “I came back to cricket after watching MS Dhoni’s film. After watching this film, I felt our stories are similar… I came back to cricket only because of MS Dhoni.”
Offers that opened doors
Once he returned, Shifang let his performances do the talking. He has excelled in domestic cricket, including a distinguished Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign in which he took 10 wickets in just three matches. The five-wicket haul against Karnataka proved to be a defining moment, putting him on the radar of IPL scouts.
In T20 cricket as well, he showed promise with a best spell of 3/25 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. These performances eventually led to IPL opportunities, but not without frustration. He has attended trials for multiple franchises and even missed a few opportunities with Sunrisers Hyderabad due to scheduling issues.However, SRH has not forgotten him. They went back to the auction and got him at base price, finally giving him the break he’d been waiting for.