Anukul Roy
Role: Batting Allrounder
DOB: 30 November 1998
IPL Team (2026): Kolkata Knight Riders
Base Price: ₹20 Lakh
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 7 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4* | 3.00 | 6 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 1 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4* | – | 4 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 1 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 7 | 90 | 135 | 2 | 1/13 | 67.50 | 9.00 | 45.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0/11 | – | 11.00 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 24 | 35 | 1 | 1/13 | 35.00 | 8.75 | 24.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 48 | 79 | 1 | 1/28 | 79.00 | 9.87 | 48.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0/10 | – | 5.00 | – | 0 | 0 |
The Story of Anukul Roy
Anukul Roy, the unassuming left-arm orthodox spinner from Jharkhand, first burst onto the national consciousness as a vital cog in India’s triumphant U19 World Cup campaign in 2018. Nicknamed “Sammy” by his teammates for his resemblance to West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy, Roy was the joint-highest wicket-taker for India in that tournament, snaring 14 wickets with his deceptive flight and subtle variations. His ability to pick up crucial wickets in the middle overs and chip in with the bat marked him as a promising all-round talent, catching the eye of IPL scouts.
Hailing from a humble background in Samastipur, Bihar, Roy’s journey to cricket was fueled by passion and perseverance. He moved to Jharkhand to pursue his cricketing dreams, honing his skills in the domestic circuit. His U19 heroics quickly translated into an IPL contract, with Mumbai Indians securing his services in the 2018 auction. While opportunities were initially scarce in a star-studded MI lineup, Roy’s dedication remained unwavering, often seen working tirelessly in the nets, absorbing lessons from the likes of Krunal Pandya and Rahul Chahar.
Roy’s playing style is characterized by his classical left-arm spin, focusing on accuracy, subtle changes in pace, and a well-disguised arm ball. With the bat, he’s a handy lower-order hitter capable of clearing the ropes, though his IPL appearances have rarely allowed him to showcase this facet. His fielding, however, is consistently sharp, making him a valuable asset in the outfield. Despite limited IPL game time, Roy remains a respected figure in the dressing room, known for his calm demeanor and team-first attitude.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Anukul Roy’s IPL journey began with the Mumbai Indians, who picked him up for his base price of ₹20 Lakh in the 2018 auction. Despite being part of the squad for four seasons (2018-2021), opportunities were incredibly hard to come by in a team brimming with established all-rounders. He made his IPL debut in 2019, playing just one match where he bowled two economical overs but didn’t pick up a wicket. For the remainder of his tenure with MI, he was primarily a net bowler and a valuable squad member, learning the ropes from some of the best in the business.
The 2022 mega-auction saw a change of scenery for Roy as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) acquired him, again at his base price of ₹20 Lakh. KKR, known for nurturing spin talent, offered him slightly more game time. In 2022, he featured in three matches, picking up his maiden IPL wicket against Sunrisers Hyderabad and showcasing glimpses of his potential, including a best bowling figure of 1/28. He was retained by KKR for ₹20 Lakh in 2023, where he played two matches and recorded his career-best IPL bowling figures of 1/13 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. KKR continued to show faith in him, retaining him for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons at his base price, valuing his left-arm spin option and strong fielding as a squad depth player, even if regular starting XI spots remained elusive.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
From a betting perspective, Anukul Roy is largely a ‘squad player’ with limited direct impact on match outcomes, making him a niche bettor’s choice. His primary value lies as a left-arm orthodox spinner, particularly effective on slow, turning tracks where he can exploit matchups against right-handed heavy batting lineups. When KKR plays on pitches like Eden Gardens or Chennai, and if an opposition has multiple right-handers in their middle order, Roy might be a shrewd pick for ‘most wickets’ in a specific KKR bowling innings, especially if he gets an extended spell.
His consistency metrics are hard to gauge given his sporadic appearances, but his domestic T20 record suggests he can be a wicket-taker when given a longer run. Bettors should look for instances where he’s brought in as an Impact Player or a like-for-like replacement for another spinner. His fielding is a silent strength; consider ‘total catches’ markets if he’s playing and positioned in key fielding areas. However, betting against him for ‘total runs conceded’ might be a safer option on flat tracks, as his economy rate in IPL has been on the higher side due to limited overs and pressure situations. His batting contributions are too infrequent to warrant specific betting interest, unless there’s a significant injury crisis forcing him up the order.
Key Records & Milestones
- Joint-highest wicket-taker for India in the 2018 ICC U19 World Cup with 14 wickets.
- Made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2019.
- Recorded his best IPL bowling figures of 1/13 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2023.
- Secured his maiden IPL wicket playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022.
IPL Season Highlights
Anukul Roy’s IPL career, while brief in terms of game time, has seen a few notable moments. In the 2022 season with Kolkata Knight Riders, he played three matches, marking his most active IPL campaign to date. His highlight came against Sunrisers Hyderabad where he bowled a decent spell, picking up his first-ever IPL wicket by dismissing Kane Williamson, a significant scalp that showcased his potential to trouble top batsmen. He finished the season with 1 wicket from 8 overs, conceding 79 runs.
The 2023 season saw Roy feature in two matches for KKR, and he delivered his best IPL performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore. In that game, he bowled two overs, conceding just 13 runs and picking up the crucial wicket of Mahipal Lomror, demonstrating improved control and wicket-taking ability. While his overall IPL stats remain modest, these spells underscore his capability to provide vital breakthroughs and contain runs when given the opportunity, particularly on pitches conducive to spin.