Twenty-four-year-old pacer Praful Hinge, hailing from Vidarbha, etched his name into IPL history during his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Hinge became the first bowler in the league's history to claim three wickets in his very first over, setting a blistering pace that helped SRH secure a comfortable 57-run victory against Rajasthan Royals.
His sensational opening over saw him dismantle Rajasthan Royals' top order, dismissing the dangerous opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, reducing them to a precarious 3/1. Hinge continued his impressive performance, concluding his spell with figures of 4/34, a pivotal contribution to Sunrisers' dominant win.
Praful's father, Prakash Hinge, expressed immense joy and pride from Nagpur. "We are simply delighted," he shared, highlighting the thrill of watching his son perform so exceptionally in his maiden match. The senior Hinge also shared his heartfelt dream of seeing Praful don the Indian team jersey in the future, a sentiment echoed by Praful himself.
The pacer's journey to this fairytale debut was not without its challenges. Prakash Hinge extended gratitude to the MRF Pace Foundation and SRH bowling coach Varun Aaron for their crucial role in reviving Praful’s career after a significant injury a couple of years prior. Praful himself acknowledged Aaron's guidance, specifically for helping him plan the dismissal of Sooryavanshi.
Shishir Madhavrao Sudame, Praful’s childhood coach from Nagpur, recalled his early days. Praful joined Reshimbagh Cricket Academy around age 11 or 12, displaying good height and a promising bowling action despite being lean. Sudame emphasized Praful's confidence and dedication, noting his consistent performance for Vidarbha across various age categories, which paved his way to the state U-19 team.
Reflecting on his incredible debut, Hinge revealed he had envisioned taking four or five wickets on his first outing and aimed to dominate the Powerplay. He started his cricket journey at 13, initially unsure about leather ball cricket, and expressed his desire to dedicate his award to his family, who supported him from the beginning.