Praful Hinge: Nagpur Cricketer’s Rise to SRH in IPL

Pranay Arya
Apr 14
8 min read

Praful Hinge in Sunrisers Hyderabad jersey IPL cricketer from Nagpur — Praful Hinge, representing SRH in the IPL, emerging cricketer from Nagpur

Praful Hinge, a 24-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Nagpur in India’s Vidarbha region, has emerged as one of the most talked-about newcomers in the IPL.

Representing Vidarbha in domestic cricket, he made headlines on his very first Indian Premier League appearance in April 2026. Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Hinge took an unprecedented three wickets in the very first over of the match. This is the first time any bowler in IPL history has achieved this feat in his debut.

His rapid rise from the Vidarbha cricket setup to the IPL reflects years of steady development, hard work and the support of family and mentors.

In this article:

Early Life and Family Background
Domestic Career and State-Level Success
IPL Auction and Joining Sunrisers Hyderabad
Historic IPL Debut Against Rajasthan Royals
Training, Mentors and the Road Ahead

Growing Up in Nagpur: Early Life and Family Background

Praful Hinge was born on 18 January 2002 in Nagpur. He grew up near the city's cricket grounds and developed an interest in the game early in life.

His father's initial hesitation about a professional cricket career gave way when the young Hinge impressed at a local summer camp trial at the age of 12. From that point on, the family threw their weight behind him.

Hinge has spoken candidly about not being a particularly dedicated student. He spent far more time at practice than in the classroom and frequently arrived late to class because he had chosen to bowl instead. At 16, he joined the Vidarbha Cricket Association academy under coach Sanjeev, which marked the beginning of structured, serious training.

The role of his elder sister stands out in his personal account. She is a chartered accountant and would regularly accompany him to practice sessions, waiting for him late into the night while postponing her own studies. "She used to study at nights... I wanted to do well at something, and I wanted to learn," Hinge said in an interview. His father, who works in the state electricity board, also maintained steady encouragement through the years, making it a collective family effort.

Hinge had originally set his sights on batting. It was on his father's suggestion that he made the switch to fast bowling. The transition turned out to be the right one.

A significant early milestone came at age 19 when he took 36 wickets in Under-19 selection trials, a performance that convinced him he was capable of competing at higher levels. He then trained at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai and, in 2024, attended a 15-day high-performance camp in Brisbane, Australia.

Both programmes were instrumental in developing his pace and refining his bowling action. He also worked through a minor technical fault in his action during training at MRF, with input from former India fast bowler Varun Aaron.

Building a Domestic Record: Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare and the Vidarbha Premier League

Hinge made his first-class debut for his state side in October 2024 against Puducherry. He settled in quickly. In the 2024-25 season, his team won the Ranji Trophy for the first time, and he was a contributing member of that title-winning squad.

The following season brought another landmark when the side clinched its first Vijay Hazare Trophy title in early 2026, adding the 50-over domestic championship to its list of achievements.

In Vidarbha's domestic setup, Hinge's numbers reflect consistent performance. Across 10 first-class matches by early 2026, he had taken 27 wickets at an average of approximately 26.7. His best innings figures in that format were 4 wickets for 60 runs, recorded against Tamil Nadu in November 2025. In List A cricket, he took 5 wickets from 6 appearances. His only T20 game before the IPL saw him open the bowling alongside Varun Aaron, and he finished with figures of 1 for 23.

He also played a part in the inaugural Vidarbha Premier League, representing the NECO Master Blasters. He took 8 wickets in 6 games and helped his team win that competition. He described being taken aback by the crowd in the final, which drew between 20,000 and 25,000 spectators. "That moment was special," he said of the experience.

Within the state setup, he has spoken warmly about the team's collective approach. "Everyone knows their role, and we play as a unit," he noted, referring to the group's cohesion on and off the field. He credited his captain's encouragement as a meaningful factor in the side's growth and in his own confidence.

The IPL Auction and Joining Sunrisers Hyderabad

The connection between Hinge and Sunrisers Hyderabad began with a phone call. In November 2025, immediately following a Ranji Trophy fixture against Tamil Nadu, he received a call from Varun Aaron, who was serving as a bowling consultant for SRH at the time.

Aaron invited him to a trial with the franchise. Hinge performed well at the trial and subsequently entered the IPL auction cycle.

At the IPL 2026 auction in December 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad purchased him at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. It was a different outcome from the 2024 auction, where he had gone unsold. He did not treat that earlier setback as a reason for discouragement. "I never regret anything. I just worked double," he said when reflecting on that period.

When his name was called at the 2026 auction, he described it as "the best moment of my life so far." He pointed to the reactions of his family as what made the occasion memorable. "I was hopeful about selection. Fortunately, SRH picked me, and there is nothing better than making your parents happy," he said.

At Sunrisers Hyderabad, he joined a pace attack that includes experienced international names. The squad also had senior Indian bowlers. For Hinge, the presence of Aaron as bowling coach provided a familiar point of contact within the setup, as the two had already worked together at the MRF Centre. He said he was relishing the competition within the squad. "I like playing under challenge... SRH have a lot of fast bowlers, so I am relishing it already," he told reporters.

Three Wickets in One Over: The IPL Debut and What Followed

Sunrisers Hyderabad named Hinge in their Playing XI for the match against Rajasthan Royals at Uppal Stadium on 13 April 2026. Given the new ball, he opened the bowling for the side.

His first delivery dismissed 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was beaten for pace and edged the ball to be caught behind for a golden duck.

The second and third wickets followed within two deliveries: Dhruv Jurel and Lhuan-dre Pretorius were both dismissed, leaving Rajasthan Royals at 1 for 3 after a single over.

Hinge finished that opening over with figures of 3 wickets for 0 runs. No bowler had ever taken three wickets in the first over of their IPL debut. The record was immediate and unambiguous. He also became just the eighth bowler in IPL history to take four wickets in the powerplay phase of a match, with three of those coming in that debut over alone.

Commentators noted that he bowled with accuracy and extracted considerable bounce from the surface, troubling each of the three batsmen in different ways. His captain and teammates visibly responded to what was happening in the middle. Ishan Kishan, captaining Hyderabad, was reported to have been unable to stop smiling as the over concluded. Media coverage in the hours and days after the match consistently referred to him as the pacer from Vidarbha who had broken new ground in the tournament.

Hinge's own response was measured. He described a "healthy feeling" after the debut and expressed a straightforward enthusiasm for what was ahead in the season. He said he had focused on sticking to line and length and executing the plans set by his side's think tank, crediting the framework provided by the team.

What Built the Bowler: Training, Mentors and Personal Drive

Hinge has been consistent in crediting external support for his development. The MRF Pace Foundation, where he trained from 2022 onwards, is a recurring reference point in his account of how his bowling was shaped.

He described the experience there as a grounding one that showed him clearly what areas needed improvement. The Foundation also provided education on injury prevention, which he regards as equally important to the technical work.

Varun Aaron's influence across multiple stages of his career is notable. Aaron was involved in his development at MRF, was later called for the SRH trial, and now coaches him within the franchise. Hinge has spoken about being inspired by the journeys of other fast bowlers who came through the domestic setup to reach the national team, noting that he always "wanted to be like" one such bowler who came from the same regional background.

His attitude towards preparation is straightforward. He spoke about focusing on the yorker for death overs, maintaining repeatable rhythm, and keeping his goals manageable at each step rather than looking too far ahead. He described arriving at practice with the same discipline, whether the occasion was a local ground session or a professional camp abroad.

He pays attention to the small details, including punctuality and the upkeep of his equipment.

The family support structure continues to be close. When he played in Hyderabad, family and friends from Nagpur were in the stands. He has repeatedly said that seeing his parents proud is the motivation that has driven him through the harder stretches of his career. "I wanted to do well at something," he said simply, in a line that captures his approach well.

As the IPL 2026 season continues, he will bowl in further matches as part of SRH's rotation. The debut has given him a visible position within a competitive squad and a starting point to build from across the remainder of the tournament.

FAQs

Q: Who is Praful Hinge, and what team does he play for in the IPL 2026?

A: Praful Hinge is a 24-year-old right-arm fast bowler from Nagpur who represents his state side in domestic cricket and plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026. He was bought by SRH at the IPL 2026 auction in December 2025 at his base price of Rs 30 lakh, following an earlier unsold listing in the 2024 auction.

Q: What record did Praful Hinge set on his IPL debut against Rajasthan Royals? A: On 13 April 2026, Praful Hinge became the first bowler in IPL history to take three wickets in the very first over of his debut. He dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius for just 3 runs in that opening over, finishing with figures of 3 for 0. He also became only the eighth bowler in IPL history to take four wickets during the power play.

Q: What are Praful Hinge's domestic cricket statistics and career background?

A: By early 2026, Hinge had played 10 first-class matches for his state side, taking 27 wickets at an average of approximately 26.7, with best figures of 4 for 60 against Tamil Nadu. In List A cricket, he took 5 wickets from 6 games. He trained at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai from 2022 and attended a high-performance camp in Brisbane in 2024. His state side won the Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 and the Vijay Hazare Trophy in early 2026, with Hinge as part of both squads.

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