Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) young pacer Praful Hinge has scripted a dream Indian Premier League (IPL) debut. In a sensational moment at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday. The 24-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Vidarbha became the first bowler in IPL history to take three wickets in his very first over. He dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel and Lhuan-dre Pretorius leaving RR at 1/3 inch after 1 over. This explosive start not only boosted SRH but also highlighted the emerging talent of domestic cricket.
First ever SRH vs RR match, IPL 2026
When Hinge opened the bowling for SRH against the strong top order of Rajasthan Royals, he produced an unforgettable spell. He started by dismissing teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a golden duck with a hard delivery that sped up the batter. Sooryavanshi tried a move but only managed a top edge which went straight up. Salil Arora, the keeper, completed the catch and sparked wild celebrations in the SRH dugout. Kavya Maran was seen jumping out of her seat excitedly.
Next came Dhruv Jurel who walked in but lasted just two balls. Pant pounced on a length delivery just outside off; Jurel played with an angled bat and a thick inside edge plucked the off stump. The crowd erupted as RR dropped to ½.
On the sixth ball, Pretorius flicked a full delivery on the pads straight to Nitish Kumar Reddy at deep backward square leg for a caught dismissal. Hinge finished with figures of 3/0 in the over, sending the Uppal crowd into a frenzy. Ishan Kishan couldn’t stop smiling as the SRH players attacked the debutant.
Who is Praful Hinge?
Praful Prakash Hinge, born on 18 January 2002 in Nagpur, is a tall medium fast right arm bowler known for his bounce and discipline even on flat tracks. He made his senior debut for Vidarbha across formats in the 2024-25 season and quickly became a key member of the team that lifted the Ranji Trophy (2024-25) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (2025-26).
In 10 first-class matches, Hinge picked up 27 wickets at an impressive average of 26.66. He played six List A matches, taking five wickets and featured in only one T20 match where he took one wicket. His performances in the inaugural Vidarbha Pro T20 League, where he grabbed eight wickets in six matches, impressed IPL scouts with his ability to mix long, controlled spells.
Hinge has been honing his skills at the prestigious MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai since 2022 and even attended a 15-day training camp in Brisbane in 2024. His work ethic and raw pace make him a valuable asset to SRH, adding depth to their pace attack alongside experienced batsmen.
Praful Hinge IPL Debut Details
Praful Hinge who bought SRH for ₹30 lakh in the mega auction, he finally got his chance after a heartbreaking near-miss earlier in the week. On 11 April against Punjab Kings, captain Ishan Kishan announced him in the playing eleven in the toss, replacing Jaydev Unadkat. However, last-minute changes with the Impact Player rule kept him on the bench. This time, Kishan confirmed the replacement after the toss: “We have two changes from the last game, (Praful) Hinge comes in (and veteran Jaydev Unadkat misses out, Harshal Patel is among the impact players).
