The 24-year-old, pacer Praful Hinge was given a dream IPL debut by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their IPL 2026 encounter against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
Replacing experienced Indian pacer Jaydev Unadkat, Hinge looked brilliant and grabbed attention with a stupendous opening spell.
The young right-arm medium pace bowler began his career in IPL in spectacular fashion by claiming three wickets in the very first over he bowled in his T20 career. The impressive performance helped SRH bag 3 early wickets and destroy the top order of RR in powerplay.
Dream IPL Debut: 3 Wickets in First Over
Hinge's first ever IPL over turned out to be a dream start for SRH and nightmare for Rajasthan Royals. The pacer gave Yashasvi Jaiswal a single on his first delivery before claiming Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a golden duck on the subsequent delivery. This stunned Rajasthan Royals players and fans couldn't believe their eyes.
He then struck again to pick up the crucial wicket of Dhruv Jurel, who got the edge while attempting to drive away and his bat crashed onto the stumps. Rajasthan Royals, in the first over alone found themselves in a perilous situation and the entire SRH team was excited in the park.
The crowd at Uppal went into raptures as skipper Ishan Kishan and the entire team erupted in disbelief after witnessing the amazing debut spell. Hinge completed his over by dismissing Lhuan-dre Pretorious, scripting his name in the IPL folklore with a rare achievement of three wickets in his first ever over.
From Nagpur to the IPL
Praful Hinge comes from Nagpur and is one of the Vidarbha representatives in domestic cricket. The road was certainly not a bed of roses for Hinge as his father initially opposed the idea of his playing cricket. An event, in summer, where he attended a trial during a camp is a time where his family realised his talent.
A young age of 16, saw him joining Vidarbha Cricket Association Academy, where under expert coaching, his potential was harnessed. The bowler impressed all when he took 36 wickets in the U-19 trials.
In October 2024, he made his first-class debut. List A cricket would come to Hinge in early 2025, and after 10 first-class matches, he has picked up 27 wickets at a respectable average of 26.7, with a best of 5 for 55. The left-arm quick also played a vital role in Vidarbha's Vijay Hazare Trophy winning campaign taking 5 wickets in the tournament.
Training, Sacrifice, and the IPL bid
Hinge has been training at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai since 2022. A place where India's fast bowlers hone their craft. In 2024, he also spent time at a training camp in Brisbane, where he bowled alongside Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson, among others. He was then roped in at his base price by Sunrisers Hyderabad at the auction for 30 lakh. Ironically, Hinge was in a temple in Nagpur, where he learned of the auction result.
His sister, a Chartered Accountant, has been his biggest support and helped him during training and his studies.
IPL debut with a statement
His first spell was all the more significant as he announced his arrival as one of the most exciting young talents of IPL 2026. With three wickets in his first over of the match, Hinge is one player to watch out for.