In a pivotal moment of the UP T20 League 2026, Shiva Singh’s exceptional bowling performance propelled the Noida Kings into the playoffs. The left-arm orthodox spinner’s hat-trick and five-wicket haul came in a rain-shortened match against the unbeaten Meerut Mavericks at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
With Noida Kings needing a victory to advance, the match was reduced to five overs a side due to rain. Singh bowled two overs, achieving remarkable figures of 5 for 6, dismantling Meerut Mavericks for 33 runs with seven wickets down. This included a hat-trick, making him only the second bowler in the league’s history to achieve this feat.
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Singh credited a phone call from his father and first coach, former Uttar Pradesh Ranji Trophy player Ajit Singh, for his outstanding performance. “Actually, I had not spoken to my dad for the first nine matches,” Singh said. “Today, he called me up and said, It is the last league game, just play the way you always do. It is on you now, you are the main player of the team. Just perform the way you do in local matches. That really helped me. Mentally, I was taking a lot of pressure before this, but hopefully, it turned out to be a great day.”
Born and raised in Moradabad, Shiva Singh has
Born and raised in Moradabad, Shiva Singh has represented Uttar Pradesh in all three domestic formats. Discussing his approach to the condensed game, he explained, “Since it is a short match, you have to look at the batsman, the wicket, and the conditions, and bowl accordingly. You have to think a bit differently from your usual big-match plans. You have to be a bit smarter. My only plan was not to concede boundaries.”
Singh was part of the Indian squad coached by Rahul Dravid that won the 2018 Under-19 World Cup alongside players like Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, and Arshdeep Singh. Reflecting on his career, he stated, “If you want to keep playing cricket, you have to learn something new every single day. You need to have that mindset to learn; only then can you move forward. I don’t really look at where my batchmates are right now. I just try to focus on balancing my weaknesses and positives so I can perform well in the match.”
Previously a key player for Kashi Rudras, contributing to two title wins in the first three UP T20 League seasons, Singh was acquired by Noida Kings for 17.5 lakh rupees in this season’s auction, making him one of the highest-paid players in the tournament. “As everyone knows, whoever does well here gets a chance for the IPL, and most importantly, for their state team,” he said. “So my goal is to do well here first. I have come to a new team this year after playing for Kashi for three years, so hopefully, I can help Noida win this time.”
Under the captaincy of Prashant Veer, who
Under the captaincy of Prashant Veer, who was sold to Chennai Super Kings for 14.20 crore rupees and is the joint-most expensive uncapped player in IPL auction history, Noida Kings have secured 10 points and a spot in the Eliminator. Veer’s experience alongside stars such as MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad, has positively influenced the squad. Singh praised Veer, saying, “Prashant has played the IPL, so I would say he brings a lot of experience. This is his fourth year, and he has been doing great in all four seasons. Earlier, he was alone in Noida, playing innings that won matches single-handedly. He is a very good leader and a great team man. He always steps up in tough situations. It shows character–coming from the IPL and dominating here. He has a really good attitude towards cricket.”
The Noida Kings now look to advance further in the tournament, driven by the combined grit of Shiva Singh and the leadership of Prashant Veer.
Source: thenewsmill.com
