Praful Hinge announced himself in stunning fashion on his IPL debut, producing a dream first over to leave Rajasthan Royals reeling in their clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
SRH vs RR, IPL 2026: Updates | Scorecard
The young right arm seamer from Vidarbha struck three times in his very first over, ripping through Rajasthan’s top order and putting Hyderabad firmly on top inside the opening six deliveries. It marked a rare feat in IPL history, with very few bowlers managing multiple wickets in the first over of an innings, let alone three.
DREAM DEBUT STUNS ROYALS
Hinge’s breakthrough came on just his second ball, when he dismissed highly rated youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a golden duck. Bowling a hard length delivery, he rushed the batter into a miscued pull, with the ball looping up for a simple catch. The early strike set the tone for what was to follow.
Two balls later, Hinge struck again, this time removing Dhruv Jurel. A testing delivery just outside off induced an error, with the inside edge crashing back onto the stumps. Rajasthan suddenly found themselves two down for just one run, with pressure mounting rapidly.
Hinge completed a remarkable over on the final ball, dismissing debutant Lhuan dre Pretorius. The left hander flicked a full delivery on the pads, only to find a fielder perfectly placed at deep backward square leg. The wicket sealed a sensational start, leaving Rajasthan in deep trouble at the end of the first over.
WATCH THAT OVER HERE
RECORD FEAT AND RISE
The over not only shifted momentum decisively in Hyderabad’s favour but also etched Hinge’s name into IPL record books. The only previous instance of a similar early burst for Sunrisers Hyderabad came in 2024, when Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck twice in the opening over against the same opposition at the same venue.
Before this breakout performance, Hinge had built a steady reputation in domestic cricket. In 10 first class matches, the 24 year old has picked up 27 wickets at an average of 26.7, showcasing his ability to operate as a disciplined seamer. Though relatively untested in the T20 format, his control and composure were evident in his limited opportunities.
Signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 30 lakh ahead of the 2026 season, Hinge was seen as a promising backup option. On debut, however, he delivered a statement performance, immediately justifying the franchise’s faith.
With one over, Praful Hinge has not only introduced himself to the IPL but also provided Sunrisers Hyderabad with a dream start that could shape the course of the match.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– Ends
