Anukul Roy — Jharkhand’s Rising All‑Rounder and KKR’s 2026 Prospect.
Anukul Roy is among India’s promising young cricketers – he is a left-arm spinner and bats left-handed – and he hails from Jharkhand, a state that has produced many talented players.
Introduction
- Name: Anukul Roy
- Role: Left‑arm orthodox spinner / left‑handed lower‑middle order batter
- Home state: Jharkhand
- Notable: Youth international success, strong performances in domestic cricket, seen as an all‑round prospect
Early life & domestic rise
Anukul Roy laid the foundation of his cricket career in the domestic circuit of Jharkhand, learning to bowl tight left-arm spin and honing his batting skills to become a true all-rounder. The coaching setup and competitive local tournaments in Jharkhand helped him develop technically and mentally—a system that has produced other international players—providing him with a strong platform to perform well in Under-19 and senior domestic cricket.
Playing style & strengths
• Bowling: An accurate left-arm orthodox bowler with good control over line and length. He varies his pace well and can exploit slight turn and bounce, making him effective in the middle overs. He is particularly useful in conditions that favor spin and can build pressure by keeping the batsmen in check.
• Batting: A useful left-handed batsman who can rotate the strike and hit boundaries occasionally – valuable in the lower middle order when the team needs quick runs or needs to shepherd the tail.
• Fielding and temperament: An agile fielder and generally calm under pressure – qualities that teams value in tight T20 matches.
Why KKR (IPL 2026) is a good fit
• Spin-friendly approach: KKR traditionally values smart spin options and flexible all-rounders. Anukul Roy’s left-arm spin complements the existing spin group and provides the captain and coach with a viable option in the middle overs.
• Development environment: KKR’s coaching resources, mentorship (senior spinners, overseas experts), and culture of nurturing young talent can accelerate his development.
• Matchups and conditions: Eden Gardens and other grounds in the subcontinent favor disciplined spin bowling; Anukul Roy can be a reliable option against both right-handed and left-handed batsmen in these conditions.
• Team balance: A bowler who can contribute as an all-rounder strengthens the team in the long run, which is beneficial for IPL 2026 and beyond.
What to expect in IPL 2026
Role: He can be effective in restricting runs in the middle overs and can also contribute with the bat towards the end of the innings.
Opportunity: If given consistent opportunities, he can establish himself as a reliable domestic spinner and stake his claim for a place in T20s, which might even open doors for him at a higher level.
Areas for improvement: Improving his ability to bowl variations at different speeds and enhancing his power-hitting skills will make him more effective and a better fit for T20 matches.
Final thought
Anukul Roy’s controlled left-arm spin and lower-order batting make him a compelling prospect for IPL 2026. In this exciting competition, Roy could prove to be a low-risk, high-reward player. With consistent coaching and regular opportunities, he can be utilized as a reliable weapon in the middle overs. He is a popular player among Jharkhand fans and could emerge as a hero this season.
