Praful Hinge Creates History with Sensational IPL Debut Over
In a stunning display of fast bowling, Praful Hinge announced his arrival on the Indian Premier League stage by dismantling the Rajasthan Royals' top order in a dream debut at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday. The young pacer delivered a spell for the ages, breaking the backbone of RR's batting lineup and putting their run chase in complete disarray from the very first ball.
A Fairytale Start: Three Wickets in the Opening Over
Praful Hinge etched his name into IPL history books by becoming the first bowler ever to take three wickets in the opening over of an innings. In a sensational burst, he dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with a golden duck, followed by Dhruv Jurel and Lhuan-dre Pretorius also for ducks, leaving the opposition shell-shocked and setting the tone for a dominant Sunrisers Hyderabad performance.
The Nagpur-born bowler finished with impressive figures of 4/34 from his four overs, playing a crucial role in bowling Rajasthan Royals out for 159 in 19 overs after Sunrisers had posted a strong 216 for 6, powered by skipper Ishan Kishan's explosive 44-ball 91. This defeat marked RR's first loss of the season, while SRH climbed to fourth position in the points table.
Emotional Player of the Match Reveals Childhood Dream
After receiving the Player of the Match award, an emotional Hinge revealed he had always dreamt of dismissing Sooryavanshi on the very first ball he bowled in the IPL. "I did think about it. Last year, I had written somewhere that whenever I play my first match, I will definitely take four or five wickets," Hinge confessed. "And I wanted to dominate as much as possible in the powerplay. I believe in it. I don't know about others, but I do believe."
The young pacer dedicated his award to his family, acknowledging their sacrifices throughout his journey. "Standing at this stage, it feels really good. I want to dedicate this award to my family. They've made a lot of sacrifices for me. I just want to say, their hard work and sacrifices mean everything," he said emotionally.
Wicket-by-Wicket: How Hinge's Magic Unfolded
The historic over began with Sooryavanshi beaten for pace on the first ball, with the resulting top edge going straight up for wicketkeeper Salil Arora to complete a simple catch. Hinge then trapped Dhruv Jurel with a delivery that landed outside off and nipped back in, taking an inside edge before crashing into the stumps. Pretorius attempted a flick but failed to clear Nitish Reddy at deep backward square leg, completing a remarkable triple-wicket maiden.
Hinge particularly cherished his first wicket, explaining: "The best one was the first wicket of Sooryavanshi, because he was in form. I had already told a couple of people that I would get him out on the very first ball, either with a bouncer or in some way. I just wanted his wicket on the first ball. That was the plan."
From Humble Beginnings to IPL Stardom
The 22-year-old shared insights into his cricketing journey, which began at age 13 without even knowing what leather-ball cricket was. "When I was 13, I told my father that I wanted to join a club. He refused a couple of times, saying I was too young. But somehow, things started from there. After that, I just kept playing," Hinge recalled.
He also expressed gratitude toward his support system, including bowling coach Varun and MRF for their care during past injuries. "Also, our bowling coach Varun bhai helped me a lot. And I'm thankful to everyone who supported me. Everything is fine now. I want to thank MRF for taking really good care of me. When I was there, Naveen sir, the physio, looked after me very well. Since I've reached this stage today, I want to thank them too," he added.
Looking Ahead: SRH's Momentum Builds
With this comprehensive 57-run victory, Sunrisers Hyderabad have gained significant momentum in the tournament. The team will next face Chennai Super Kings on April 18, carrying the confidence from Hinge's historic performance and their strong batting display led by Ishan Kishan.
Hinge's debut has not only rewritten IPL records but also served as inspiration for young cricketers across India, demonstrating how dedication, belief, and family support can culminate in moments of sporting glory on the biggest stage.
