Sunrisers Hyderabad’s pace attack delivered a statement performance as debutants Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain struck with the ball, each claiming four wickets, helping SRH secure a commanding 57-run victory over Rajasthan Royals. After the match, SRH pace bowling coach Varun Aaron shared what he told the young pacers before they stepped into the spotlight and praised their intent and execution throughout the game.
Key takeaways
- Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain both finished with four-wicket hauls on debut against Rajasthan Royals.
- Varun Aaron said his only message to the debutants was to enjoy the occasion rather than worry about the outcome.
- Praful’s wicket-taking burst included three scalps in his first over, a feat no bowler had achieved in IPL history.
- Sakib Hussain, introduced as an Impact Sub for Travis Head, took 4/24 and broke through the top order by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal.
- SRH bundled out RR for 159 in 19 overs while chasing a target of 218, sealing SRH’s second win of the season.
Varun Aaron’s pre-match message to the debutants
Varun Aaron revealed that when Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain were preparing for their first IPL outing, his instruction was straightforward: treat it like a one-time opportunity and focus on enjoying the contest. He emphasised that a debut is a rare moment in cricket, and that the players should let the game come to them instead of fixating on results.
Speaking to reporters after the win, Aaron said his request was that he wanted to see them enjoying the match. He added that, based on what happened on the field, the debutants genuinely embraced the moment—and the entire group did as well.
Praful’s conviction and the wicket plan
Varun Aaron also highlighted the mindset behind Praful’s crucial breakthrough involving Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He explained that the discussion before the delivery was about whether the bowler should attack from around the wicket, but the final plan was for Praful to stay over the wicket and execute the plan with confidence.
Aaron stressed that while the approach was a collective part of bowling strategy, the decisive factor was Praful’s belief and conviction. He pointed out that Praful had expressed confidence about getting Vaibhav out, noting that he had done it earlier and expected to do so again—something Aaron said he was genuinely happy to see come true.
How the debutants made their mark
Praful Hinge’s entry into the IPL produced a historic opening spell. He grabbed three wickets in his first over, making him the first bowler in IPL history to take a hat-trick of wickets in the opening over of an innings. Across his four overs, he finished with figures of 4-34.
Sakib Hussain received his chance after being brought in as an Impact Sub for Travis Head. He responded with a 4-24 return, beginning by removing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal before continuing to dismantle Rajasthan Royals’ batting depth.
SRH’s control sets up a 57-run win
With contributions from both debutant pacers, SRH restricted RR to 159 runs in 19 overs while defending a sizeable total of 218. The win marked SRH’s second success of the season, underlining how effectively they turned debut nerves into match-winning pressure.
