Manifestation is one thing; execution is another. Praful Hinge’s words after dismissing the in-form 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a golden duck might make it sound simple, but it was far from easy.
On Monday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad set league leaders Rajasthan Royals a daunting target of 217 in 20 overs. But SRH’s debutant pacer had other plans. Hinge succeeded where the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Matt Henry and Trent Boult had struggled. Clearly, it was not about the stars aligning for him.
Speaking after the match, Hinge revealed that he had planned the dismissal in advance and had identified the bouncer as the key option. It was a tactic many had tried, yet Sooryavanshi had consistently been successful until this moment.
“I had told two or three people beforehand that I would get him out on the first ball, either with a bouncer or somehow,” Hinge told the broadcaster.
And he did exactly that, prompting former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan to jokingly revisit a question he had raised earlier on social media about whether Sooryavanshi was deliberately targeting big-name bowlers.
SO, WHAT IS THE REALITY?
It could be a coincidence, but ultimately, execution is what matters.
“Praful’s strength lies in his line and length; his execution with the ball is pretty solid,” M. Senthilnathan, chief coach of the MRF Pace Foundation, told India Today. This is an area Hinge has sharpened during his time at the academy, working closely with director Glenn McGrath and other specialists who are available to him.
“It’s not that difficult to identify a batter’s weakness in today’s game; every team is likely aware of it. What it ultimately comes down to is execution,” he added.
According to experts, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s vulnerability lies in his high backlift and his tendency to clear his front leg while going for expansive shots. This movement can expose him to deliveries directed at the stumps, allowing bowlers to cramp him for room or create a gap between bat and body, something visible in his setup.
High-quality pace, especially when combined with swing or well-directed bouncers and hard-length deliveries into the body, has repeatedly shown it can limit the young batter’s impact.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar tried something similar during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s game against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on April 10. However, the veteran moved away from the plan after failing to land the body-directed bouncer, drifting wider outside off and conceding two wides.
“Hinge kept the ball where he was supposed to, cramping the young boy for room, with the ball having a little bit of movement. That is where his strength lies,” Senthilnathan said, referring to Bhuvneshwar’s attempt to dismiss Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Operating with a front-on action, Hinge hit a hard length that rushed Sooryavanshi. The youngster, relying on quick reflexes, looked to whip it over square leg or mid-wicket but could not control the shot. The ball took the edge and ballooned to the wicketkeeper, who completed a straightforward 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, sat up in Sooryavanshi’s hitting arc. Hazlewood’s effort, directed closer to the back of the head, still allowed enough time for the batter to adjust and dispatch both deliveries for sixes over square leg.
“They showed it,” Senthilnathan said. “Keep it on the stump line and cramp him for room. That is his natural length, and he kept it there and got the success.”
The difference was clear. Hinge’s length stayed true to his strengths and hurried the batter, while the others offered the time that Sooryavanshi thrives on.
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