Manifestation is one thing; the execution is different. Praful Hinge’s words after dismissing 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in form for a golden duck might sound simple, but it wasn’t easy.
Sunrisers Hyderabad set league leaders Rajasthan Royals a daunting target of 217 in 20 overs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday. But the SRH debutant pacer had other plans. Pant succeeded where the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Matt Henry and Trent Boult struggled. Obviously, it wasn’t that the stars aligned for him.
Hinge revealed after the match that he had planned the dismissal in advance and identified the bouncer as a key option. It’s been a tactic tried by many, but Sooryavanshi has been consistently successful so far.
“I told two or three people before that I was going to get him on the first ball, either with a bouncer or something,” Hinge told the TV station.
PRAFUL CURTAIN TO MAKE HIS IPL DEBUT:
“I wrote in the newspaper last year that when I make my IPL debut, I will take 4-5 wickets. pic.twitter.com/4l5TFV5RL9— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 13, 2026
And he did exactly that, prompting former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan to jokingly return to a question he had raised earlier on social media about whether Sooryavanshi was deliberately targeting well-known bowlers.
SO WHAT IS THE REALITY?
It could be a coincidence, but ultimately it comes down to execution.
“Praful’s strength lies in his line and length; his execution with the ball is quite solid,” M. Senthilnathan, head coach, MRF Pace Foundation, told India Today. This is an area that Hinge honed during his time at the academy, working closely with director Glenn McGrath and other specialists at his disposal.
“It’s not that hard to identify a batsman’s weakness in today’s game; every team is probably aware of it. Ultimately, it’s about execution,” he added.
According to experts, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s vulnerability lies in his high back lift and his tendency to clear his front foot while going for expansive shots. This movement can expose him to deliveries aimed at the stumps, allowing bowlers to squeeze him for a spot or create a gap between bat and body, something visible in his set-up.
Quality pace, especially when combined with swing or well-directed bouncers and long body deliveries, has proven time and again that it can limit the young batsman’s impact. 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays with the bowlers (Reuters Photo)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar attempted something similar during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on April 10. However, the veteran deviated from the plan after failing to land a bouncer aimed at the body, drifting wider outside off and conceding two wides.
“Hinge kept the ball where he was supposed to and pushed the young lad into space with the ball having a bit of movement. That’s where his strength lies,” Senthilnathan said, referring to Bhuvneshwar’s attempt to dismiss Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Operation with action from the front, Pant hit a hard length that rushed Sooryavanshi. Relying on quick reflexes, the youngster tried to whip it over square leg or mid-wicket but could not control the shot. The ball reached the edge and ballooned to the keeper, who completed a straight-line catch.
In contrast, deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood followed a similar short-ball approach but differed in execution. Bumrah’s bouncer, slightly shorter and slower, settled in Sooryavanshi’s strike arc. Aimed closer to the back of the head, Hazlewood’s effort still gave enough time for the batter to adjust and send both deliveries for sixes over square leg.
“They showed it,” Senthilnathan said. “Keep it on the off-stump line and keep it in spasm. That’s his natural length and he kept it there and had success.”
The difference was clear. Hinge’s length stayed true to his strengths and sped up the batter while the others offered the time Sooryavanshi thrives on.
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Published on:
15 April 2026, 6:00 AM IST
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