Vinay Kumar was born in Davangere, Karnataka, on 12 February 1984. He attended a government school in Davangere before graduating from the A.R.G. Arts and Commerce College with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Vinay Kumar married Richa Singh on 29 November 2013. Spouse: Richa Singh

Vinay Kumar was selected for Karnataka's Ranji Trophy team in the 2004–05 season and made his Debut against Bengal. He was the Ranji Trophy's second-highest wicket-taker in the 2007–08 season, with 40 at an average of 18.52. He was signed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. He is Affectionately Called as "The Davangere Express" .

He was the highest wicket taker in the 2009–2010 domestic season. In IPL 2010, he took 16 wickets, the highest among all pace bowlers in the tournament, leading to his selection to play for India in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies. He played in one match in the tournament, taking two wickets for 30 runs from four overs in India's five-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka.

In May 2010, after India's elimination from the ICC World Twenty20, Vinay Kumar made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in Harare, taking 2/51 off eight overs in a six-wicket defeat. He injured his knee before India's next fixture, and was replaced in their squad by Abhimanyu Mithun. Vinay Kumar returned to the Indian team in October 2010, playing in one ODI of India's three-match series against Australia and taking 0/71 off nine overs.

In 2011, Vinay Kumar joined Kochi Tuskers Kerala for the franchise's first and only season in the IPL, having been bought for US$475,000 in the pre-season auction.^[13] He also returned to the Indian team, being selected in the limited overs squads for tours of the West Indies and England.^[14] He played in the dead rubber fifth match of the ODI series against the West Indies, taking one for 46 from nine overs.^[15] He then played in three ODIs in England, taking two wickets. Later in 2011 he played in four ODIs in India against each of England