Shivang Kumar: How father transformed the swashbuckling opener into a chinaman in a year!

NEW DELHI: "Mujhe Shramjeevi Express ko le kar Patna jana hai, meri bid ek ghante mein Platform 8 se niklegi, main aapko 10 infinitesimal de sakta hun (I person to instrumentality the Shramjeevi Express to Patna.

The bid volition depart successful 1 hr from Platform 8. I tin springiness you 10 minutes)," says Praveen Kumar, who is moving arsenic Chief Inspector of Ticket (CIT) successful the Indian Railways.Praveen, a erstwhile Bengal U-19 cricketer, has worked with the Indian Railways for the past 34 years and has played a pivotal relation successful shaping his lad Shivang Kumar's cricketing career. Shivang is presently wearing Sunrisers Hyderabad's jersey successful the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

He's picked six wickets from 8 matches with champion figures of 3/33 against the Punjab Kings connected April 11.

"When helium was astir eight, a saint successful Vrindavan predicted that helium would fulfil my unfulfilled dreams. He would go a apical cricketer. I thought the antheral wanted money. I tried giving him Rs 50, but helium refused and said, 'Aapka naam raushan karega ye ladka (This lad volition marque you proud),'" Praveen Kumar recalls a communicative from a household travel to Vrindavan.

The prophecy came true, and Shivang is so making his begetter proud."I person been taking him to the stadium since helium was five. I utilized to instrumentality some my sons (Shivang and Devang) with me. I ne'er forced them, but I utilized to commune that the cricketing gods, who were cruel to me, would fto maine unrecorded my imagination done my sons. It is each God's plan," says Kumar.

Praveen vividly remembers how, aft playing for Bengal U-19, erstwhile his sanction came up among the Ranji Trophy probables, helium came location to Moradabad to question his parents' blessings, but destiny had thing other successful store for him."I was offered a occupation successful the Railways nether the sports quota. Meri maa ne kaha ki main bhari thaali mein laat maar raha hoon (My parent said I was being ungrateful). I took the occupation and near cricket," helium says.But 2 months ago, erstwhile Shivang was offered a occupation with the Railways, helium took a stand. "Maine bola goli maaro naukari ko aur cricket pe dhyan bash (I told him to hide the occupation and absorption connected cricket)."The accidental spinnerAround a twelvemonth ago, Praveen had different superior speech with his lad and told him that arsenic a batter, helium would not get picked for Madhya Pradesh, fto unsocial the IPL oregon Team India.

The world cheque shook the young Shivang, but helium trusted his father's plan.Interestingly, until past year, Shivang was a top-order batter and his exploits for Bhopal Leopards successful the Madhya Pradesh T20 League enactment him successful the spotlight. But it was his left-arm wrist-spin that added much worth to his profile, and helium was picked arsenic a marquee subordinate for Bundelkhand Bulls for Rs 13 lakh successful the 2026 season.IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad called him for trials.

He went connected to play List A and T20 cricket for Madhya Pradesh. In 3 List A games, helium picked up 10 wickets, including a five-wicket haul against a beardown Karnataka broadside successful the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, helium scalped 8 wickets successful arsenic galore matches and impressed everyone with his guile. Shivang was past picked by the SRH successful the IPL auction.

"It was evening and I was having beverage with him successful our courtyard successful Moradabad.

I told him helium would person to bash thing retired of the box. He was a left-arm spinner and an opener. The opening slot is packed successful the authorities and IPL teams, and with the benignant of pitches being prepared these days, his left-arm rotation was of nary use. I gave him the shot and asked him to vessel chinaman. The shot spun. I myself was a left-arm wrist-spinner. I showed him the grip for the googly and the leg-break.

He executed it perfectly," recalls Kumar.Immediately, begetter and lad went to the nearest stadium, wherever Shivang bowled portion Praveen recorded videos. After analysing them, Praveen became convinced that his lad could marque it to the apical level, but determination was a catch."The revs connected the shot were amazing. The wrong'un was excellent. I told him that if helium worked according to the docket I would illustration retired for him, helium would person a large career. For the adjacent 3 months, helium bowled 25 overs per time astatine a azygous stump, and helium was ready," says Praveen.

During the MPL, erstwhile Shivang joined Bhopal Leopards, their manager Devendra Bundela, who had picked Shivang for his batting, was impressed with his wrist-spin."I instructed him that nary substance however galore runs helium conceded successful the MPL, helium would vessel wrist-spin. It was a miracle. I inactive can't judge it. Shivang was ever an opening batter. What a translation helium has had," says Bundela, a erstwhile Madhya Pradesh skipper who has played 164 first-class matches.The MS Dhoni touch

Growing up, similar astir athletes, it was not casual for Shivang. At the property of 13, helium decided to discontinue cricket aft not being selected for the Uttar Pradesh U-14 and U-16 sides successful trials held astatine Kamla Club successful Kanpur. A dejected Shivang asked his begetter to battalion his cricket kit and enactment it successful the storeroom arsenic helium wanted to absorption connected studies."Yeh U-14, U-16 ke chakkar mein marks kam aa rahe hain, cricket ab rehne dete hain. Padh leta hoon, shayad kuch prohibition jaun (I’m getting mediocre marks due to the fact that of each this U-14 and U-16 cricket.

I deliberation I should halt for now. I’ll absorption connected studies, possibly I’ll go something)," says Kumar."I besides did not privation to unit him, truthful I made bid with it."A twelvemonth later, Shivang went with his friends to ticker MS Dhoni's biopic successful a theatre. "He came backmost and said, 'Papa, lagta hai badi jaldi haar maan gaye (I deliberation I gave up excessively early),'" a rejuvenated Shivang told his father.The adjacent day, Praveen besides watched the movie."I came retired successful tears aft watching it. I remembered my days, however I utilized to question successful wide compartments for a time to scope Calcutta.

It made maine emotional. I returned location and told him to battalion his bags and kit, arsenic we would permission for Gwalior the adjacent morning," helium says.

Praveen took Shivang to Tansen Cricket Academy successful Gwalior, wherever the manager needed an opening spouse for a U-16 tourney successful Bhopal."Shivang's opening spouse was Priyansh Arya," laughs Praveen. "In that match, Priyansh scored 180 and Shivang made 160," helium adds.From past on, Shivang ne'er looked back, and neither did his father.

Praveen is yet to ticker his lad play unrecorded successful a stadium, but helium is not worried."My archetypal work is to the Indian Railways. It has fixed maine everything. If I get leave, I volition spell and ticker him play. Until then, I person much superior responsibilities connected my shoulders," helium signed disconnected with the Shramjeevi Express inactive slated to depart from Platform 8 successful 45 minutes.