New Delhi: “I have to take Sharm Jivi Express to Patna, my train will leave platform 8 in one hour, I can give you 10 minutes (I have to take Sharm Jivi Express to Patna). The train will depart from platform 8 in one hour. I can give you 10 minutes.” Parveen Kumarwho is working as Chief Inspector of Tickets (CIT) in Indian Railways.Former Bengal Under-19 cricketer Praveen has worked with the Indian Railways for the past 34 years and was instrumental in shaping the cricket career of his son Shivang Kumar. Shivang is currently playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). He took six wickets with best figures of 3/33 in eight matches against Punjab Kings on 11 April.
“When he was about eight years old, a saint from Vrindavan predicted that he would fulfill my unfulfilled dreams, become a top cricketer. I thought the man wanted money, I tried to give him Rs 50, but he refused and said, ‘Aap naam roshan karaye hai boy (this boy will make you proud)),'” a story by Praveen Kumar from V Rindavan’s family.The prophecy came true, and Shiwang is really proud of his father.“I have been taking him to the stadium since the age of five. I used to take my two sons (Shiwang and Devang) with me. I never forced them, but I used to pray that the gods of cricket, who oppress me, let me live my dream through my sons. It’s all God’s plan,” says Kumar.
File photo of Shivang Kumar’s father Praveen, former Bengal Under-19 cricketer. (Photo by Special Arrangement)
Parveen vividly remembers how, after playing for Bengal Under-19, when his name came up among the Ranji Trophy prospects, he came home to Moradabad to seek his parents’ blessings, but fate had something else in store for him.“I was offered a job in the railways under the sports quota. My mother said I was kicking a bag (my mother said I was being ungrateful). I took the job and quit cricket,” he says.But when Shivang was offered a job in the railways two months ago, he took a stand. “I said shoot the job and focus on cricket (I told him to forget work and focus on cricket).”The accidental spinnerAbout a year ago, Praveen had another serious conversation with his son and told him that as a batsman, he would not be selected for Madhya Pradesh, let alone the IPL or Team India. The reality check shook young Shiwang, but he trusted his father’s plan.Interestingly, till last year, Shivang was a top-order batsman and his exploits for Bhopal Leopards in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League put him in the spotlight. But it was his left-arm wrist spin that added more value to his profile, and he was selected as the marquee player for Bundelkhand Bulls in the 2026 season for Rs 13 lakh.IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad called him for trials. He continued to play List A and T20 cricket for Madhya Pradesh. In three List A games, he took ten wickets, including five against a strong Karnataka team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he took eight wickets in as many matches and impressed everyone with his moves. Shivang was then picked by SRH in the IPL auction.
Shivang Kumar during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 T20 cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings at Hyderabad. (PTI photo)
“It was evening and I was having tea with him in my yard in Moradabad. I told him he had to do something outside the box. He was a left-arm spinner and opener. The starting slot is packed with state and IPL teams, and with the way pitches are being produced these days, his left-arm spin has not helped. I gave him the ball and asked the Chinaman to bowl. The ball rolled. I myself was a left arm wrist spinner. I showed him the grip for the googly and the leg break. He did it perfectly,” recalls Kumar.Immediately, father and son went to a nearby stadium, where Parveen recorded videos of Shivang bowling. After analyzing them, Praveen was convinced that his son could reach the top level, but there was a catch.“Reeves was amazing with the ball. The wrong-in was excellent. I told him that if he worked as per the schedule I would chart out for him, he would have a great career. For the next three months, he bowled 25 overs a day on the same stump, and he was ready,” says Parveen. During the MPL, when Shivang joined Bhopal Leopards, their coach Devendra Bundela, who had selected Shivang for his batting, was impressed by his wrist spin.“I instructed him that no matter how many runs he scored in the MPL, he would bowl wrist spin. It was a miracle. I still can’t believe it. Shivang was always an opening batsman. How much he has changed,” says former Madhya Pradesh captain Bundela, who has played 164 first-class matches.MS Dhoni touch
Shivang Kumar (R) with his father Praveen. (Photo by Special Arrangement)
Growing up, like most athletes, was not easy for Shewang. At the age of 13, he decided to quit cricket after not being selected for the Uttar Pradesh Under-14 and Under-16 teams at trials held at the Kamala Club in Kanpur. A depressed Shivang asked his father to pack his cricket kit and put it in the store room as he wanted to focus on his studies.“It’s U-14, U-16 cycles where marks are coming down, live cricket now, study, get married, get married (I’m getting bad marks because of all this U-14 and U-16 cricket). I think I should stop now. I will focus on studies, maybe I will become something,” says Kumar.“I didn’t want to force him either, so I made up with him.”A year later, Shivang went to watch MS Dhoni’s biopic at a theater with his friends. “He came back and said, ‘Papa, it seems like I gave up too soon (I think I gave up too soon),'” a young Shiwang told his father.The next day, Parveen also watched the film.“I came out crying after seeing it. I remembered my days, how I used to travel in ordinary coaches for a day to reach Calcutta. It made me emotional. I returned home and asked him to pack his bag and kit, as we would be leaving for Gwalior the next morning,” he says.
SRH spinner Shivang Kumar’s father Parveen is a Chief Inspector of Tickets (CIT) in the Indian Railways. (Photo by Special Arrangement)
Praveen took Shivang to the Tansin Cricket Academy in Gwalior, where the coach needed an opening partner for the Under-16 tournament in Bhopal.
Poll
Which role do you think has the most impact on a young player’s career?
“Shiwang’s opening partner was Priyansh Arya,” laughs Praveen. In this match, Priyansh scored 180 runs and Shivang scored 160 runs.Since then Shivang has never looked back and neither has his father. Parveen has yet to see his son play live in a stadium, but he is not worried.“My first duty is to Indian Railways. It has given me everything. If I get time off, I will go and watch him play. Till then, I have more serious responsibilities on my shoulders,” he signed off with the Sharm Jive Express, which was scheduled to depart from platform 8 in 45 minutes.
