Who is Krains Fuletra? 5 interesting facts about SRH's new signing at IPL 2026 Auction

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) made several notable additions to their squad in the recent IPL 2026 auction, following a torrid 2025 season. The well-known names aside, the franchise also signed a remarkable eight uncapped players at the auction.

One such signing was that of 21-year-old left-arm wrist spinner, Krains Fuletra, for ₹30 Lakh. The youngster will add plenty to the SRH spin department, which was found wanting last season.

While it remains to be seen if Fuletra gets gametime in his maiden IPL season, given the big names in the SRH side, Hyderabad, and other Indian cricket fans have been curious to find out more about the 21-year-old.

On that note, let us discover five interesting facts about Krains Fuletra, one of SRH's many uncapped signings at the IPL 2026 auction.

#1 Krains Fuletra's timely breakthrough

Krains Fuletra's initial rise to fame came through his stellar performances with the ball in the 2025 Saurashtra Pro T20 League. Playing for the Anmol Kings Halar, the youngster finished with 10 wickets in as many games at an excellent average of 21.30 and an economy of 7.61.

His heroics helped Anmol Kings finish atop the points table before their eventual six-wicket loss in the final. Nevertheless, Fuletra made it to the Saurashtra side in T20s for the first time after his performances in the Saurashtra T20 League.

#2 The earlier IPL connection

Krains Fuletra may have only now earned an IPL contract, but the youngster is no stranger to the league. The left-arm spinner was already part of the SRH setup as a net bowler in their dismal IPL 2025 campaign.

Incidentally, star wicketkeeper batter Heinrich Klaasen, renowned for smashing spinners, even spoke about the challenges of facing Fuletra.

"I have faced enough left-arm leggies, but I just couldn't hit him and struggled the whole time," said Klaasen in an interview (via TOI).

Fuletra played his two T20 games for Saurashtra in the recent 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), picking up a lone wicket.

#3 The unique cricketing link with Krains Fuletra's name

Despite coming from a village in one of the districts in Gujarat, Krains Fuletra had cricket running in him from the time he was named. His father, Bhavesh, incidentally named him after former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns.

Yet, the similarity between Fuletra and Cairns ends with the name, as both cricketers perform contrasting roles. While Cairns was a right-arm pacer and a right-handed batter, Fuletra is a left-arm chinaman spinner with little batting ability.

Cairns was among the most accomplished all-rounders in his generation, finishing with over 8,000 runs and 419 wickets in his illustrious international career.

#4 Another pacer to spinner transition in Indian cricket

Former leg-spinner Anil Kumble is famous for transitioning from pace-bowling to spin at the start of his cricketing career. The move earned him rich rewards as Kumble remains India's most accomplished bowler with 956 scalps.

Ever since, several other cricketers in India have made the transition from pacer to spinner, with Krains Fuletra being the latest. His Under-23 fielding coach, Amit Shukla, decided to convert his bowling style, given the lack of competition in the left-arm chinaman department.

"Selectors need a unique bowler. I thought he would be quite lethal as a chinaman. Even his parents weren't aware initially about the transition," said Amit (via the aforementioned source).

Team India currently boasts arguably the best all-format left-arm chinaman in world cricket in the form of Kuldeep Yadav.

#5 The Virat Kohli praise

Krains Fuletra's coach, Kamal Chavda, gave the spinner the ultimate praise, calling his athletic ability on par with Indian legend Virat Kohli (via TOI). The 21-year-old has also earned praise for his fielding from several renowned Indian players, Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, among others.

Talking about Fuletra's fielding, his coach Chavda said:

"SRH fielding coach Ryan Cook used to conduct special sessions with Krains because he is considered an excellent fielder, due to his superb catching style, running, and gathering of the ball."

The youngster is yet to take his first catch in the three domestic games for Saurashtra.

Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran