In a remarkable tale of perseverance and unique talent, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have secured the services of young Saurashtra chinaman bowler Krains Fuletra for ₹30 lakh in the IPL 2026 player auction. The 21-year-old's journey, from being a net bowler who puzzled the world's best to a coveted IPL signing, is nothing short of cinematic.
The Net Bowler Who Baffled a Superstar
The decision to sign Fuletra was heavily influenced by his impressive performances as a net bowler for SRH during the IPL 2025 season. He left a lasting mark on one of the most destructive batters in world cricket, Heinrich Klaasen. The South African powerhouse recently recollected his struggles against the youngster, stating, "I have faced enough left-arm leggies but I just couldn't hit him and struggled the whole time."
For Fuletra, bowling to Klaasen was a coveted challenge. "I like bowling to Klaasen because he is the world's best batter against spin and smashes sixes for fun," the chinaman revealed in an exclusive interaction. "I wanted to dismiss him without conceding a single six and I managed that." His performances were so convincing that SRH considered him as a replacement for Adam Zampa last season, a plan that fell through only because Fuletra hadn't registered for the auction.
A Village Beginning and an Unlikely Inspiration
Krains Fuletra's roots are in Maliya Hatina, a village in Gujarat's Junagadh district. His family traditionally runs a small paan shop there. His name itself has a quirky cricketing connection. His father, Bhavesh, named him 'Krains' as a tribute to former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, with 'Krishna' and 'Krish' as other potential names.
Fuletra's initial cricket practice was reminiscent of a Bollywood training montage. "We used to practice cricket in the village like Aamir Khan trained his on-screen daughters in Dangal, within a limited space," recalled Bhavesh. Backing his son's talent, the family made the tough decision to move to Rajkot, a transition fraught with financial challenges, to provide Krains with better opportunities.
The Six-Year Wait and a Coach's Faith
Fuletra's path was not linear. After being picked in Saurashtra's under-14 team, he endured a barren run of six years without game-time at the under-16 and under-19 levels. "I battled a lot of self-doubt," Fuletra shared. "I didn't even get picked in the Saurashtra under-19 team's training camp despite being the sixth-highest wicket-taker in the district. There were many thoughts about a switch to a secure job."
His coach, Kamal Chavda, stood by him. "I simply told Krains one thing, 'Apna time aayega (Your time will come). Don't tell me that you weren't prepared for the opportunity,'" Chavda said. Fuletra maintained a grueling routine, starting at 4:30 AM and often training until late afternoon, traveling hundreds of kilometers to fine-tune his skills under Chavda's guidance.
The Transformation: From Pacer to Lethal Chinaman
Interestingly, Fuletra began as a left-arm pacer. He was spotted by Amit Shukla, current Saurashtra under-23 fielding coach, who took charge of his training. Shukla made the pivotal decision to convert him into a left-arm spinner, specifically a chinaman, due to concerns over his height and the limited competition in that niche.
The transformation was meticulous. "Selectors need a unique bowler. I thought he would be quite lethal as a chinaman," stated Shukla. A concrete roadmap focused on biomechanics and match practice was drawn. Fuletra initially bowled slow googlies, but through dedicated practice, he increased his speed dramatically, making the googly a potent weapon. "Krains' googly sets him apart from other spinners as it's very tough to pick," Shukla added, citing the legendary advice given to Shane Warne about holding the ball for hours.
Breaking Through and IPL Recognition
The tide finally turned when Fuletra picked 13 wickets in three district matches, forcing his inclusion into Saurashtra's under-23 team. His talent earned the appreciation of Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat, who recommended him to SRH for the net bowler role.
At the SRH nets, he impressed legends like Daniel Vettori and Muttiah Muralitharan. Team India batter Abhishek Sharma was particularly taken, insisting on meeting coach Chavda and terming Fuletra an "extraordinary player" with a bright future. Fuletra's abilities aren't limited to bowling; his fielding is highly rated, with coach Shukla comparing his natural athleticism to that of Virat Kohli.
He has already drawn praise from stars like Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja after a net session before a T20I in Rajkot. With a successful IPL stint, he could soon find himself sharing the Indian dressing room with them and his idol, Kuldeep Yadav. For now, Krains Fuletra's story stands as a testament to patience, unique skill, and an unwavering belief that one's time will indeed come.
