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NEW DELHI: A smart adjustment and a bit of prior knowledge helped young pacer Praful Hinge make an instant impact in Indian Premier League 2026, as he announced himself with a dream outing for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals.The 24-year-old struck early, dismissing teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with just his second ball and going on to pick multiple wickets in a fiery opening spell. But behind that breakthrough was a clear plan, fine-tuned with a last-minute tweak from the coaching staff.
“I played an Under-23 game against him and got him out with a bouncer there as well. So, I thought that if I bowl a bouncer, he would look to go after me, like he is doing with every bowler at the moment. I wanted to test him again with the bouncer. He tried to hit it but didn’t time it,” Praful Hinge said on JioStar Press Room.“In the meeting, we had discussed him. I shared my point of view first, then the bowling coach added his inputs. I wanted to bowl to him from round the wicket, but he asked me to go over the wicket for one ball, and I got him out on that very ball. So, both of us were very happy.”Despite the standout debut, Hinge insists nothing much has changed.“Yes, I planned to bowl a bouncer to dismiss Sooryavanshi… I didn’t know that I would take four wickets in my very first match… However, I am not feeling my life has changed a lot after that. I am trying to stay away from social media and focus on training,” he added.Hinge also highlighted the role of senior players and team management in shaping his mindset, while drawing inspiration from Pat Cummins.His journey, backed by guidance from legends like Glenn McGrath and Varun Aaron, reflects steady growth and a promising future ahead.
