India head coach Gautam Gambhir has identified Sunrisers Hyderabad wrist spinner Shivang Kumar as a promising spin-bowling all-rounder for the future. The team management has been impressed by his ability to contribute with both bat and ball during India’s training sessions.
The 24-year-old recently served as a net bowler for the Indian team During the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. The opportunity came on the heels of his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2026 season and his performances in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL).
India is looking for that combination – Shivang Kumar reveals Gautam Gambhir’s advice
Speaking to RevSportz, Shivang Kumar revealed that Gautam Gambhir and spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule encouraged him to improve his all-round skills. The youngster said that both coaches believe that his ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable prospect.
“Gautam sir told me that, ‘Shiwang, you are a good combination of chinaman bowling and batting. You work hard, you work on your batting, and you are a chinaman bowler, so you have to improve yourself further.’
“And the same thing, Sairaj sir also told me that, ‘You have to perform very well with the bat because you are a good combination, and India is looking for that combination.’
The 24-year-old is a late entry into top-level domestic cricket. He has played only seven matches for Madhya Pradesh and is yet to make his first-class debut. Despite his limited experience, his recent performances have helped him gain recognition from IPL and national team coaches.
Kuldeep Yadav shared his experience and cleared my doubts – Shivang Kumar
Shivang Kumar praised Kuldeep Yadav for helping him in his early stages as a professional cricketer. The young spinner said that Kuldeep shared his experiences and guided him in overcoming cricket-related and personal challenges.
“Whatever doubts I had in life and even in cricket, I talked to him (Kuldeep) about it. And he explained me very well and shared his experience of playing cricket for so many years.”
The 24-year-old started his cricket journey primarily as a batsman before developing his wrist-spin. He was scouted through local T20 tournaments and made his T20 and List A debut for Madhya Pradesh in 2025.
MP League gives great exposure to young players – Shivang Kumar
Shivang Kumar said that Madhya Pradesh League is helping young players to prepare for high level cricket. The all-rounder said the tournament provided valuable exposure and created an atmosphere similar to major competitions.
“First of all, I would like to thank MP League very much for providing such a good platform to our players. It is a very good experience before going to a league like IPL. The experience has been great because MPL was excellent last time too.
“The crowd was huge. There was a huge crowd in Gwalior during the last MPL too, so I didn’t feel much difference. I was very comfortable while bowling there.”
“The youngsters have responded very positively. New players are coming in, they are doing well, and they are bringing a good combination to the league. There is healthy competition.”
Shivang first caught the attention of scouts through the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Madhya Pradesh League. His performances earned him an IPL opportunity with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he played 13 matches and took nine wickets during the 2026 season.