Cricket / Shivang Kumar Eyes India Cap as ‘Ultimate Goal’ after IPL Breakthrough

New Delhi, Oct 8: Rising through the ranks of domestic cricket and making his mark in the IPL, Shivang Kumar has quickly established himself as a promising left‑arm wrist spinner.

Representing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2026 season, he claimed nine wickets across 13 matches, showcasing his ability to trouble batters with variety and control. His performances also earned him a place as a net bowler with the Indian Test squad against Afghanistan and later in Sri Lanka.

Yet, despite these milestones, Shivang remains clear about his ambition securing an India cap, which he calls his “ultimate goal.”

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Reflecting on his progress, Shivang said, “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 every player in the IPL is one of the best from their state or country, which is why the IPL is the best league in the world.”

“So going and performing there, it still takes a bit of time to sink in. But 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 recalled how his SRH journey began with confidence from the coaching staff. “I had received hints right from the first day of the pre‑season camp that I was going to feature in the playing XI from the very first match,” he said.

“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. I didn’t get the chance in the opening match, but from the second match onwards, I became a regular.”

Although his start was modest, he soon made an impact. “I didn’t have a great start to my IPL career; however, I took crucial wickets in my third match against the Punjab Kings. 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,” Shivang explained.

“A new player needs exactly this kind of environment to grow and bring out their best. It works like magic, and you perform well. Whatever I could, I delivered this year, and hopefully, I will do even better next year.”

He credited SRH head coach Daniel Vettori and bowling coach Varun Aaron for their unwavering support.

“As a spinner himself, (head coach Daniel) Vettori understands a bowler’s mindset. Sometimes, when I leaked runs and went wicketless for a couple of games, he would come up to me during the strategic timeouts and tell me, ‘You are bowling well; even good balls can be hit for sixes, so don’t think much about it.’ That support meant a lot, making me feel that I could pull things back,” Shivang said.

On Aaron’s guidance, he added, “If I didn’t bowl well or went for runs in a match, Varun bhaiya never let me feel low. On those days, he would speak to me using very kind, positive words and would even tell me, ‘You are bowling now at just 50% of your potential; you can do much better.’ When a player who has represented the country in Test cricket tells you things like that, it gives you a massive boost.”

Beyond his bowling, Shivang is keen to showcase his batting skills. “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.

His performances in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League, where he struck at a rate of 180.22, underline his potential as a genuine all‑rounder.

For now, Shivang Kumar remains focused on consistency, determined to build on his IPL breakthrough and chase the dream that drives him — wearing the India cap.

(IANS)