Kiran Carlson

Kiran Carlson is the first (and so far only) Glamorgan cricketer to lift two pieces of silverware, having led Glamorgan to the 50-overs title in both 2021 and 2024.

He made a dramatic and record-breaking start to his career as a professional cricketer as during his first two years on the county’s staff, he became the Club’s youngest-ever centurion, besides falling nine runs short of being the youngest batsman to score a double-hundred. Born in Cardiff and with an Indian mother, Kiran made his first-class debut at the age of eighteen against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road during 2016 and claimed 5/28 with his occasional off-breaks – the best-ever figures on debut by a spin bowler for the Welsh county.

A fortnight later at Chelmsford, Kiran then posted his maiden Championship hundred against Essex at Chelmsford and all after Glamorgan had nosedived to 34-5. Not only did he become Glamorgan’s youngest-ever centurion in first-class cricket, his crisp and wristy strokeplay, allied to a level-headed approach to batting helped Glamorgan recover and secure an 11-run victory.

2017 had also seen Kiran score 191 against Gloucestershire in their Championship encounter at Cardiff with the right-hander nearly becoming the Club’s youngster player to score a double hundred. Shortly after his career-best innings, Kiran commenced his studies at Cardiff University and became part of the Cardiff MCCU squad. He has subsequently featured in both formats for the Welsh county, with his lively fielding creating a favourable impression in the short form of the game, besides a feisty half-century against Surrey at The Oval in the T20 game during 2018 with the young colt audaciously pulling a short ball literally off his eyebrows and onto the top tier of pavilion seating.

In the opening Championship match of 2019 Kiran added another sparkling century to his tally, against Northamptonshire at Sophia Gardens, with the student cricketer racing to his hundred from 101 balls. Kiran duly graduated in Business Management during 2021 – it proved to be a standout summer for the young batter as he also won his county cap during a season which saw him amass 928 first-class runs besides leading Glamorgan to success in the Royal London Cup with Kiran hitting a brilliant 82 in the final of the competition against Durham at Trent Bridge before, a few hours later, joyously lifting the trophy as Glamorgan won their first silverware since 2004.

In 2023 Kiran broke another Club record as he struck the fastest half-century on record for the Club with a 15-ball fifty in the T20 match against the Sussex Sharks at Sophia Gardens. 2024 was another memorable summer for the Cardiff-born batter as he proudly led Glamorgan to success once again in the One-Day Cup competition as they defeated Somerset by 25-runs in the final at Nottingham. Earlier in the season, the West Country side were also on the receiving end of a superb century in the T20 competition at Cardiff as Kiran posted 135 – the highest-ever score by a Glamorgan batter in 20 overs cricket.

2025 saw Kiran complete another boundary-laden hundred in the One-Day Cup match at Neath against Hampshire, besides scoring 1,020 first-class runs and passing the thousand runs barrier once again. It was also a summer when Kiran made his 100th first-class appearance for the Welsh county. Over the winter months, Kiran was also appointed as Glamorgan’s Club captain for 2026.

CARLSON, Kiran Shah

Born – Cardiff, 16 May 1998.

Best performances for Glamorgan:

In first-class cricket – 192 v Sussex at Hove 2023; 5/28 v Northamptonshire at Northampton, 2016.

In List A cricket – 135 v Hampshire at Neath, 2025; 4/41 v Northamptonshire at Northampton, 2022.

In T20 cricket – 135 v Somerset at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, 2024; 2/13 v Sussex at Hove, 2023.

Batting and fielding record (as at 4/10/25)