- Praful Hinge makes historic IPL debut with a three-wicket over for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals
- 24-year-old Vidarbha pacer finishes with 4-18, emerging as a breakout fast-bowling talent in IPL 2026
- Rising Indian seamer with 27 first-class wickets earns spotlight after dominant powerplay spell
A new name has burst into the Indian Premier League spotlight and it comes with a story that reads like a dream debut. Praful Hinge, a relatively unknown quick from Vidarbha, has announced himself on the biggest T20 stage with a spell that will be talked about for years.
Signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹30 lakh in the IPL auction ahead of the 2026 season, Hinge arrived as a back-up seamer in a star-studded pace unit featuring Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat. Few would have predicted that the 24-year-old would seize his moment so emphatically.
A debut for the ages
On his debut against Rajasthan Royals, Hinge took the new ball against the explosive opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. What followed was extraordinary.
In a breathtaking opening over, Hinge produced a brilliant three-wicket burst that removed Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. That stunning sequence not only rocked the Royals early but also propelled the young seamer into immediate national attention.
He was not done yet. Returning for his next over, Hinge struck again to dismiss captain Riyan Parag, finishing with remarkable figures of 4-18 in 3 overs, including 13 dot balls. It was a spell defined by control, intent and fearless execution in the powerplay.
Speaking after being named player-of-the-match, Hinge revealed the belief behind the performance.
“I had manifested this, I think I had written it somewhere last year that the first match I play, I will take four or five wickets,” Hinge said. “I wanted to dominate as much as possible in the powerplay.”
The performance reflected a clarity of intent and belief that stood out on debut.
“I started playing cricket at the age of 13. I didn’t initially know what leather-ball cricket is. But I told my father to enrol me in a club and he took me there and that’s how I started my cricket. I want to dedicate this award to my family.”
Hinge also reflected on his key breakthrough.
“I had told some people that I would dismiss him with a bouncer. I just wanted to dismiss him on the first ball, that was the plan. The bowling coach Varun Aaron helped me a lot.”
Built on steady red-ball foundations
While his IPL debut has brought instant fame, Hinge’s rise has been built patiently in domestic cricket. Representing Vidarbha cricket team, he has featured in 10 first-class matches, picking up 27 wickets at an average of 26.7. During the most recent Ranji Trophy season, he collected 16 wickets in 11 innings at 26.37, underlining his consistency as a workhorse seamer.
His exposure to T20 cricket had been minimal before this breakthrough. In fact, prior to his IPL debut, Hinge had played only one senior T20 match, returning tidy figures of 1-23 in 4 overs against Andhra while opening the bowling alongside Umesh Yadav.
Yet signs of his potential were evident. In the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he emerged as a genuine wicket-taking threat. He claimed 15 wickets in just 7 matches.
He also played a key role in Vidarbha’s maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph. His spells were disciplined and controlled. Against Baroda, he returned figures of 1-47. He also tested Hardik Pandya with clever, well-timed bursts of bowling.
A journey shaped by persistence
Born in Nagpur on January 18, 2002, Hinge’s cricket journey began relatively late at the age of 13. Initially a batter, he switched to fast bowling on his father’s advice. Early challenges included correcting an illegal bowling action, a hurdle he overcame through rigorous training to develop a repeatable rhythm.
His development has been supported by stints at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai and a high-performance programme at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane. Known for his ability to hit-the-deck and extract bounce, Hinge uses his height effectively to trouble batters even on subcontinental pitches.
Learning among the elite
Now part of a high-quality Hyderabad pace group, Hinge finds himself in an ideal environment to grow. He has often spoken about his admiration for Cummins and the opportunity to share a dressing room with his idol appears to be shaping him already.
From a promising red-ball performer to a headline-grabbing IPL debutant, Praful Hinge’s journey has taken a dramatic leap. If his opening spell and that unforgettable three-wicket over are any indication, this is just the beginning of a compelling new chapter in Indian fast bowling.
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