Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) promising young left-arm spinner Shivang Kumar produced a game-changing moment in the IPL 2026 Southern Derby against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Bowling a well-disguised googly, he dismissed the dangerous Dewald Brevis for a duck at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, helping SRH take control during the chase.
The decisive moment against Dewald Brevis
In today’s southern derby, ČSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and decided to field first. SRH posted a competitive 194/9, powered by explosive knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen. Shivang contributed a quick 12 off 8 balls, including a six, in the lower order.
During CSK’s chase, Kumar was introduced in the middle overs. On the fourth ball of his over at 11.4, he bowled a delivery on the stumps. Brevis’ eyes lit up as he stepped forward to lift him over the line. However, he failed to get the timing right. The ball came off the bottom of the bat and cut through at a great height but no real distance. It was a googly and Liam Livingstone completed an easy long-on catch. Brevis departed for 0 off 4 balls with CSK at 113/5.
Kumar’s over was tight, conceding just three runs and breaking a promising partnership. This breakthrough shifted the momentum firmly in SRH’s favor in the intense encounter.
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Who is Shivang Kumar? From Moradabad Railway Colony to IPL spotlights
A 23-year-old right-handed batsman and left-handed wrister, Shivang Kumar hails from Harthala Railway Colony in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Born on 26 May 2002, he represents Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and brings all-round value with his clever variations and skilful lower-order batting.
His father Praveen Kumar, a Chief Ticket Inspector (TTE) with the Indian Railways and a former Bengal Ranji player, played a key role in shaping his career. Praveen took a bold decision to convert Shivanga from right-arm bowling to left-arm wrist spin. Shivang later described the move as “his father’s masterpiece”.
As a youngster, Shivang spent hours imitating spinners like Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav. His journey faced a major setback when he failed to make the under-14 team and quit cricket for five months. The turning point came when his brother convinced him to watch the movie *MS Dhoni: The Untold Story*. Inspired by Dhoni’s struggle and success, Shivang returned to the game with renewed passion and determination.
He trained hard under his father, even in Rewa, a region known for its fast bowlers. Ahead of the 2026 mini-auction, Shivang had trials with several franchises including Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. SRH showed early interest but faced scheduling hurdles. Finally, Sunrisers Hyderabad signed the uncapped talent at his base price ₹30 lakhs.
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Shivang Kumar’s home run record and IPL entry
Despite limited senior cricket, only four T20 matches and three List A matches, Shivang has impressed the selectors. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he took 10 wickets in three matches at an impressive economy of 5.16. His highlight was a brilliant 5/45 against Karnataka in Ahmedabad. He also scored a composed 67 off 69 balls against Jharkhand.
He took a best of 3/25 against Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Shivang made his IPL debut for SRH against Kolkata Knight Riders on 2 April at the Eden Gardens.
