Praful Hinge Makes IPL History with Sensational Debut Over
In a stunning turn of events during the IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, debutant pacer Praful Hinge delivered a performance for the ages. The 24-year-old right-arm fast bowler, handed the new ball by captain Ishan Kishan, produced a fiery opening over that ripped through the Royals' top order and instantly turned the game on its head.
A Record-Breaking Spell
Hinge's debut over was nothing short of sensational, as he dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius—all for ducks—in a devastating display of pace and accuracy. This remarkable feat marked the first time in IPL history that a bowler has taken three wickets in the very first over of an innings. While there have been 32 instances of bowlers striking twice in the opening over, Hinge's achievement stands alone as a unique milestone.
His spell did not stop there; Hinge went on to finish with impressive figures of 4/18, earning him a place in an elite list of bowlers who have taken four or more wickets inside the powerplay. This list includes notable names such as Ishant Sharma, who took 5/12 in 2011, Shoaib Akhtar, Ajit Chandila, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pat Cummins, Deepak Chahar, and Mohammed Shami. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, the only previous similar effort was by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who picked up two wickets against the same opposition at the same venue in 2024.
Who Is Praful Hinge?
Praful Hinge is a young seamer from Vidarbha who was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 30 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction. Before this breakthrough performance, he had quietly built a solid reputation in domestic cricket, particularly in the longer format. Hinge made his first-class debut in October 2024 and has been a regular feature in the Ranji Trophy, where he has picked up 16 wickets in 11 innings. Overall, in 10 first-class matches, he has claimed 27 wickets at an average of 26.7, numbers that underline his consistency and ability to bowl disciplined spells.
In T20 cricket, however, Hinge was relatively inexperienced prior to his IPL debut. He had played just one match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, returning figures of 1/23 against Andhra while sharing the new ball with Umesh Yadav. Despite this limited exposure in the shortest format, Sunrisers Hyderabad saw significant potential in the young pacer and brought him into a bowling unit that features experienced names like Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel, and Jaydev Unadkat.
Justifying Faith and Announcing Talent
On his debut, Hinge not only justified the faith placed in him by the Sunrisers Hyderabad management but also announced himself as a rising talent to watch out for in the cricketing world. His ability to perform under pressure and deliver a match-changing spell highlights his potential to become a key player in future IPL seasons and beyond.
This historic performance has already sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts and analysts, with many praising Hinge's skill and composure on such a big stage. As the IPL season progresses, all eyes will be on this young pacer to see if he can build on this incredible start and continue to make waves in the tournament.
