Kiran Carlson 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 Glmaorgan 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.
CARLSON, Kiran Shah
Born – Cardiff, 16 May 1998.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 191 v Gloucestershire at The SSE SWALEC, 2017; 5/28 v Northamptonshire at Northampton, 2016.
In List A cricket – 82 v Durham at Trent Bridge, 2021; 4/41 v Northamptonshire at Northampton, 2022.
In T20 cricket – 77 v Middlesex at Sophia Gardens, 2023; 2/13 v Sussex at Hove, 2023.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 73 | 127 | 7 | 3989 | 33.24 | 11 | 17 | 30 | – |
| List A | 42 | 40 | 3 | 1153 | 31.16 | – | 10 | 15 | – |
| T20 | 60 | 54 | 3 | 1018 | 19.96 | – | 3 | 20 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 1825 | 27 | 1298 | 22 | 59.00 | 1 | – |
| List A | 557 | 0 | 539 | 18 | 29.94 | – | – |
| T20 | 33 | 0 | 61 | 0 | 30.50 | – | – |