Praful Hinge, a young Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer, scripted a dream Indian Premier League (IPL) debut. In a sensational moment at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.
The 24-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Vidarbha became the first bowler in IPL history to claim three wickets in his very first over. He dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, leaving RR reeling at 1/3 in after 1 over. This explosive start not only boosted SRH but also put the spotlight on an emerging talent from domestic cricket.
Born on January 18, 2002, in Nagpur, Praful Prakash Hinge is a tall right-arm medium-fast bowler known for his bounce and discipline even on flat tracks. He made his senior debut for Vidarbha across formats in the 2024-25 season and quickly became a key member of the side that lifted the Ranji Trophy (2024-25) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (2025-26).
In 10 first-class matches, Hinge has picked up 27 wickets at an impressive average of 26.66. He has played six List A games, taking five wickets, and featured in just one T20 match, claiming one wicket. His performances in the inaugural Vidarbha Pro T20 League stood out, where he grabbed eight wickets in six games, impressing IPL scouts with his ability to bowl long, controlled spells.
Hinge has honed his skills at the prestigious MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai since 2022 and even attended a 15-day training camp in Brisbane in 2024. His work ethic and raw pace make him a valuable asset for SRH, adding depth to their pace attack alongside experienced campaigners.
Praful Hinge’s IPL debut details
Praful Hinge, who was bought by SRH for ?30 lakh in the mega auction, finally got his chance after a heartbreaking near-miss earlier in the week. On April 11 against Punjab Kings, captain Ishan Kishan had announced him in the playing XI at the toss, replacing Jaydev Unadkat. However, last-minute changes with the Impact Player rule kept him on the bench. This time, Kishan confirmed the switch post-toss: “We have got two changes from the last game, (Praful) Hinge coming in (and veteran Jaydev Unadkat misses out, Harshal Patel is among the impact players).”
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