IPL 2026: Praful Hinge Shines Bright with Triple Wicket Haul in Debut Match
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Hyderabad, April 13 (NationPress) Vidarbha fast bowler Praful Hinge made a remarkable entrance into the IPL 2026 by securing three wickets in his debut over while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday.
At just 24 years old, Hinge was acquired by SRH for his base price of Rs 30 lakh during last year's auction in Abu Dhabi. He stunned the crowd by bowling out the teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi on his very first delivery, followed by dismissing Dhruv Jurel and South African player Lhuan-dre Pretorius within the same over.
With this achievement, Hinge has become the first bowler in the history of the IPL to claim three wickets in the opening over of a match. Standing tall and quick, Hinge effectively utilizes his height to create bounce and seam movement. He has represented Vidarbha in domestic competitions and made his senior debut across all formats during the 2024/25 season.
In his first-class career, Hinge has played 10 matches, taking 27 wickets at an average of 26.66, along with five wickets in six List A games. His experience in T20 cricket has been limited, having played only one senior match prior to IPL, where he recorded figures of 1/23 against Andhra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Hinge's ascent in the sport has been marked by steady growth. Since 2022, he has been training at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, where he caught the attention of former Indian pacer and current SRH bowling coach Varun Aaron. In 2024, he also attended a 15-day training camp in Brisbane.
His performance in the inaugural Vidarbha Pro T20 League last year, where he played an instrumental role in leading the Neco Master Blasters to victory, further solidified his T20 credentials. Hinge started playing cricket at the age of 12 and looks up to SRH’s regular captain Pat Cummins, who is currently recovering from a lumbar back injury.
He also draws motivation from Umesh Yadav, another prominent pacer from India and Vidarbha. Following his spectacular debut spell on Monday, Hinge has quickly become a hot topic in IPL 2026, delivering a memorable performance that will be talked about for years to come.