New Delhi, April 14 (NationPress) Praful Hinge was unaware that he had a stress fracture. It wasn't until March 2023, when he was selected for a tenure at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, that physio Naveen Babu PK revealed the severity of his condition - an L4 fracture on the left side of his lumbar spine.

After enduring six to eight months of rehabilitation, Hinge, a promising fast bowler from Nagpur, felt as if he was facing the end of his career. Fast forward almost three years, and he was charging in at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium for his debut with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The events that followed became legendary in IPL history. Standing tall and bowling over 140 kmph, Hinge delivered a stunning performance against the Rajasthan Royals, taking four wickets in just his first two overs. His incredible debut included a dream opening over, where he dismissed teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on his very first ball, leaving spectators in awe.

Transitioning from the fear of never bowling again to dismantling one of the tournament’s top batting line-ups, Hinge's extraordinary performance highlighted how swiftly fortunes can change. Instead of the anticipated fireworks from RR’s batsmen, it was Hinge and fellow newcomer Sakib Hussain who stole the show with their impressive wicket hauls.

In Chennai, Naveen Babu missed Hinge’s debut over entirely. By the time he tuned in, the damage had already been done. "I regretted missing it. But when I realized he achieved something none of the bowlers had done in the last 19 years, I was amazed.

“He had told me before the IPL began, ‘Sir, if I get a chance in this IPL, I will make my mark in history.’ This reflects his mindset and resilience. He never backs down, even when faced with adversity or limited opportunities post-injury. I can't fully express how happy this moment makes me,” Naveen Babu shared during a conversation with IANS.

At Hinge’s home, his father Prakash sensed that his son was on the brink of greatness. Originally slated to debut against the Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh, a change in plans saw Jaydev Unadkat take the impact player slot. However, destiny had something grander in store, ensuring that Hinge’s debut would be met with thunderous applause from the SRH fans clad in orange.

“Such changes occur in matches due to various factors, so we weren’t overly worried. But when he bowled the first ball, it was incredible. After he dismissed Dhruv Jurel with his second ball, I knew he was destined for something special. Soon after, he took another wicket (of Lhuan-dre Pretorious), achieving three scalps in the first over, and the atmosphere shifted markedly,” Prakash recounted.

Usman Ghani, head coach of Vidarbha, Hinge's state team, expressed his delight for the young talent, who managed to find Riyan Parag’s edge with an away delivery to secure his fourth wicket. “He worked hard for this opportunity, and I’m thrilled he capitalized on it. He performed excellently for us, which pleased the scouts monitoring his progress. He must maintain this momentum, as ultimately, this sport is about the batsmen. Yet, taking four wickets, especially that of Sooryavanshi, is a commendable achievement,” he remarked.

Encouraged by former Indian pacer Prashant Vaidya, now director of VCA’s Cricket Academy, Hinge applied for the MRF Pace Foundation intake in 2023. What was intended to be a pivotal career move turned into a devastating setback when he was diagnosed with a severe stress fracture.

“I assured him that once he completed his rehabilitation, he wouldn’t face that injury again in his career. We aimed for that goal, and he remained so dedicated – stating, ‘I won’t return home until I finish my rehab and bowl my first ball.’ That determination led him through six months of recovery, progressively getting back into bowling,” Naveen Babu explained.

“He improved significantly and showcased excellent performances in the domestic season. Before the 2024/25 season, Hinge faced another injury – groin osteitis and required further rehab. Since then, he has been unstoppable,” Naveen added.

Hinge’s rehabilitation involved sufficient rest, aqua and strength training, a tailored fitness regimen, and an in-depth biomechanical assessment, followed by a rebuild. Ramji Srinivasan, a former India strength and conditioning coach and a pivotal figure at the foundation, detailed the intricacies of Hinge’s recovery.

“We didn’t rush things and were careful throughout the process. Varun (Aaron, current SRH pace bowling coach and ex-India pacer) and I frequently discussed his running and bowling mechanics, pre-delivery stride, and foot placements, ensuring the right torque was involved.

“Numerous factors were examined and custom designs were made for him. He’s a dedicated and gritty athlete. Despite experiencing self-doubt during his injury phase, he recovered, played consistently, and adhered to the schedule right up to the last Ranji Trophy game this year. I recall Hinge telling Varun, ‘Just give me one chance, sir. If I get it, I’ll handle the rest,’” he recounted.

The MRF Pace Foundation, operational since 1987, develops raw fast bowlers from the ground up in both fitness and technique. They provide accommodation, flights, physiotherapy, yoga, coaching, DEXA body composition scans, and proper nutrition without charging a penny from the bowlers. As M Senthilnathan, the foundation's head of cricket affairs, puts it, ‘From socks to cap.’

Senthilnathan was overjoyed to witness Hinge, alongside former trainees Sakib and Eshan Malinga, shine in Hyderabad. The influence of legendary Glenn McGrath, the foundation’s head coach, greatly benefitted Hinge, according to Senthilnathan. McGrath’s former trainer, Kevin Chevell, also contributed to Hinge’s conditioning last year.

“Glenn’s role involves teaching how to manage pressure on the field, as most discussions revolve around these topics. But ultimately, on the field, a bowler must confront their battles alone.

“It’s crucial to control one’s mind, bounce back after a challenging shot from a batter, and to recover under pressure – these essential lessons have significantly aided Hinge while training under Glenn McGrath,” he explained.

In June 2024, as part of the MRF Pace Foundation’s annual exchange program with Cricket Australia’s High Performance Centre in Brisbane, Hinge spent nearly a month adapting to unfamiliar conditions, analyzing different pitches, and interacting with Australian quicks.

As Hinge embraced Aaron in a bear hug after SRH’s 53-run victory, the joy on their faces spoke volumes. Aaron, who represented India in nine Tests and nine ODIs, deeply understands the struggle with injuries. He experienced three stress fractures in his back, alongside various other injuries. For Srinivasan, Aaron’s most valuable contribution as SRH’s bowling coach is not just technical expertise - it’s the empathy developed through experience.

“It was Varun’s recommendation to recruit Hinge and Sakib for SRH. While Sakib is also quite fast, focusing back on Hinge, he maintained his discipline, and now his development must be closely observed. Varun deserves significant credit as well – he embraces technology and science in the system.

“Varun’s scientific approach, rather than merely going through the motions, has been advantageous. He leads by example and serves as a guiding force for Hinge. I can confidently state he possesses profound knowledge in this field,” he noted.

In December, while the auction occurred in Abu Dhabi, Hinge was engrossed in it on his mobile device inside a temple. As a devoted follower of Lord Hanuman, he had been shortlisted previously, only for injuries to hinder his progress. This time, SRH acquired him at his base price of Rs 30 lakh.

On Monday, with the new ball in hand, Hinge marked his run-up and created history. "If someone has a dream IPL debut like this, what more could you ask for?", Prakash said with pride.

Before that magical Monday night in Hyderabad, along with journeys to Chennai and Brisbane, Hinge followed the path of countless cricket-obsessed children in India - bat in hand and dreams of hitting boundaries.

Bowling was never the initial aspiration; it required strength, patience, and sacrifices. At 13, Praful convinced his father to enroll him at the local Gymkhana club, partly to channel his restless energy during summer vacations.

When Prakash, a recently retired accountant from Maharashtra’s Electricity Board, visited the academy, he found his son engaged in what all the other boys were doing - hitting fours and sixes. That’s when he imparted a pivotal lesson to Praful.

“Many become batters, but very few emerge as bowlers. He used to practice on our terrace, trying to bowl. I suggested he focus on becoming a bowler. Those words guided him, and he embraced that path, building a career in bowling,” he noted.

The family quietly supported Praful – Prakash, his wife Alka, and their daughter, who excelled academically from nursery to tenth grade while immersed in CA coaching, took turns dropping off and picking up Praful from the academy. It was the kind of everyday sacrifice families make as they align themselves around a shared dream without complaint.

“My daughter topped the merit list in the Vidarbha zone in 2014. I encouraged her to put in the effort to achieve her dreams without pressure from me. I conveyed the same message to Praful – if he wanted to balance playing and studying, he could. Gradually, he made the cricket field his second home,” Prakash shared.

Hinge’s progression through Vidarbha's age-group structures was systematic. In the 2019/20 Cooch Behar Trophy, he participated in 11 matches, claiming 36 wickets at an average of 25. In the 2023/24 CK Nayudu Trophy, he played seven games, securing 26 wickets at an average of 19.

He made his first-class debut for Vidarbha in October 2024, taking 16 wickets in the Ranji Trophy at an average of 26.37. His sole T20 appearance was against Andhra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in December 2025, where he recorded figures of 1-23. Hinge also played a crucial role in the Neco Master Blasters winning the inaugural edition of the Vidarbha Pro T20 League in 2025.

“After the injury, when he returned to the domestic circuit, he struggled to find opportunities like other bowlers. He faced inconsistency in team selection. Notably, he played only one T20 match and limited List A and red-ball games during those years, yet he never lost hope,” Naveen Babu remarked.

The journey isn’t over for Hinge – SRH will be back in action on Saturday against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings. All eyes will once again be on Hinge as he aims to replicate the magic of those two unforgettable overs now forever etched in IPL lore.