Fast bowler Praful Hinge, whose three-wicket opening over for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Rajasthan Royals turned him into one of IPL 2026's breakout names, is now preparing for his first India 'A' assignment — a red-ball series against Australia 'A' at the CAP-Siechem Stadium in Puducherry, beginning 22 September. The Nagpur-born right-arm pacer says his game plan is as uncomplicated as it gets: think about nothing beyond the ball in hand.

The Mindset Behind the Breakthrough

'I don't think too much in my brain about what will happen next or what may not happen. I just focus on the present — like what I have to do with the ball in hand in a match. I just focus on bowling one ball at a time,' Hinge said ahead of the series. He added: 'As a bowler, there are a lot of challenges and I love those challenges. When the ball comes, I just have to do my bowling. I'll do my best. The rest, and whatever happens, will have to happen.'

It is a philosophy that appears to have served him well. Before his IPL exploits, Hinge was largely unknown outside domestic cricket circles. The India 'A' call-up arrived as a message from a media contact while he was away from Nagpur — and he only accepted it as real after verifying on the BCCI website. 'This is what is going on right now — if you work hard, you'll definitely get something,' he said.

Staying Match-Ready Since the IPL

Hinge has not allowed momentum to slip since the IPL concluded. He claimed eight wickets in the Vidarbha Pro T20 League and also featured in Under-25 emerging matches at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, maintaining bowling rhythm ahead of the red-ball assignment. He also attended an SRH off-season camp, logging significant bowling volume and working on fitness. 'My body is doing well. My fitness is great and everything is going well,' he said.

Hinge has already made his Ranji Trophy debut — in 2024 — and has taken 27 wickets from 10 first-class matches, with a prior Ranji game in Puducherry giving him some familiarity with local conditions. He expects the afternoon heat to test the pacers but said: 'Doing tough things is a habit now for me.'

The Varun Aaron Factor

A key figure in Hinge's post-IPL development has been former India fast bowler Varun Aaron, SRH's fast-bowling coach. Aaron has maintained close contact since the season ended, monitoring training, checking on bowling form, and helping adjust Hinge's action. 'He faced a lot of things and saw a lot of ups and downs. So, it feels like he's of immense help to me,' Hinge said. 'The bowling action, whatever needs to be done up and down, he adjusted it.'

Hinge has also drawn on the expertise of CoE fast-bowling coaches Lakshmipathy Balaji and P Krishnakumar, former India pacers who have helped him sharpen the finer details of his craft. 'I asked them a lot about the little things I can do better in a bowling situation,' he said.

Life After the IPL Spotlight

Recognition has changed daily life for Hinge and his family in Nagpur. 'A lot of people do recognise me now, everywhere I go,' he acknowledged, though he says he remains largely detached from social media, using it sparingly for 'a bit of fun, humour and work things.' His parents and family members have also felt the shift in public attention following his IPL breakthrough.

Hinge's Vidarbha team-mates Yash Rathod, Nachiketa Bhute, and Aman Mokhade are also part of the India 'A' squad, a familiar presence that he expects will help him settle quickly into the setup. With the red-ball series days away, Hinge summed up his feeling simply: 'I'm more excited for it, as this is what everyone practises for.'