A quiet word from Dhoni, a missed flight, and Amit Kumar has an IPL dream with SRH

Amit Kumar, a legspinner from Jharkhand who has been a net bowler for visiting teams in Ranchi for a long time, is set to realize his IPL dream in 2026. Picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for INR 30 lakh in this week's mini-auction, his journey has been one of perseverance.

Recently, amidst widespread flight cancellations, Kumar faced a setback when his flight to trial with SRH was cancelled just after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy league stage. Initially, it seemed like a lost opportunity. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. SRH had been monitoring him and the missed trial didn't deter them. They showed their confidence by signing him at the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

Kumar is a well-known figure among the net bowlers in Ranchi, often assisting when international matches are held there. His legspin has previously impressed players such as Glenn Maxwell, Keshav Maharaj, and Pravin Tambe.

During the auction, SRH bid up to INR 7 crore for Ravi Bishnoi but were unsuccessful. With Zeeshan Ansari, who had a comeback story in IPL 2025, already in their squad, they sought to further strengthen their spin attack. Had they acquired Bishnoi, Kumar's opportunity might not have materialized.

"My name came very late in the auction," Kumar told ESPNcricinfo. "I had turned off the live streaming while waiting, but then my roommate, Shubh Sharma, rushed in shouting. Calls started pouring in, and he hugged me. After that, it's all a blur."

He added, "The journey has been tough, but everyone who reaches this level experiences similar challenges. My father remained strong in front of me, but his voice broke during our video call. I just wanted to hug him."

Kumar's cricket journey began after he moved from a farming background in Hamirpur, Bihar, to Ranchi, Jharkhand. Inspired by India's 2011 ODI World Cup victory, he joined a local academy. To support his cricket aspirations, he worked various jobs, including assisting local groundsmen for INR 200 a day.

As he progressed, Jharkhand cricketers like Ishank Jaggi and Shahbaz Nadeem offered support. Kumar acknowledged, "Without the support of my coach, Muktesh Singh, and people like Nadeem, I probably wouldn't be here. They constantly reminded me of my potential when I felt discouraged."

Kumar attended trials with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI), and SRH. His hopes were raised after the RCB trials, where Dinesh Karthik spent time interacting with him.

"I filled out the form, but I was unsure about being picked at the mini-auction," he said. "I was scared. During the RCB trials, Dinesh Karthik spoke to me and offered advice on improvements, mainly focusing on mindset."

Kumar represented Jharkhand in Under-16s in 2017, Under-19s in 2018, and later in Under-23s. In the recent Under-23 competition, he took 17 wickets in seven matches, averaging 20.23.

In 2017, during a T20I match between India and Australia in Ranchi, Kumar impressed a struggling Glenn Maxwell while serving as a net bowler. Maxwell praised him.

In 2019, after a net session, Keshav Maharaj encouraged Kumar, saying, "Keep working hard. The ball is coming out nicely, and you're getting good turn at a decent pace."

Pravin Tambe also praised Kumar after observing him bowl during the Legends League in Ranchi, where he was a net bowler.

That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. after 2019, Kumar's opportunities decreased, leading to frustration. Nadeem became a mentor during this period. He also received guidance from MS Dhoni, with whom he has regularly bowled in Ranchi.

Kumar recalled Dhoni's advice: "Everyone has told you that you are a good bowler, and that's true. Remember your strengths, your identity, and the process that brought you here. Stick to that process, and everything will work out."

Nadeem considers Kumar a unique legspinner, saying, "He bowls with good pace, his grip is slightly different, and his googly is special and hard to pick. He's always been eager to learn and possesses all the skills to be a strong white-ball bowler. If SRH guides him well before the next IPL season, he will definitely play matches. His skillset is the key."

Currently, Kumar is part of the Jharkhand team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final. Winning the title could mark the beginning of something significant for him.