Praful Hinge says the buzz around his IPL breakthrough has not changed the way he approaches cricket. The Sunrisers Hyderabad seamer, fresh from an eye-catching debut, insists he is only at the beginning and views his recent success as a “baby step” rather than a reason to get carried away.
Debut impact for SRH against Rajasthan
Hinge’s statement came against the Rajasthan Royals, where he struck early and often. In his first two overs, he removed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel, tightening the game from the outset. His four-wicket haul played a major role in Sunrisers Hyderabad securing a 57-run win over RR.
- Praful Hinge took four wickets in his early spells (first two overs).
- Victims included Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel.
- SRH went on to beat RR by 57 runs, with Hinge’s burst a key factor.
Staying calm and executing under pressure
Despite the instant spotlight and fast-rising popularity online after the performance, Hinge remained focused on process. He explained that his priority was to block out the noise and keep his execution steady, adding that he had prepared similarly in nets leading into the match.
“I had thought about getting the crowd out of my head first. I wanted to be as calm as possible. I bowled a lot in nets too. So, I had to execute all those things in the match. I felt really good when I did that,” Hinge said in the JioStar Press Room.
He also pushed back on the idea that social media fame has altered his mindset.
- He does not feel he has changed despite the reaction to his debut.
- Hinge believes it is still only the start and that he has “a lot to do”.
- He says fame is not something he feels he has gained, and that continued hard work is what matters.
“I don’t feel like I have become famous. This happens in everyone’s life. If you make an effort, if you keep working hard, and if you get a chance, you should give it 100 per cent,” he added, describing the match as “a great start.”
How he planned dismissals and built confidence
Hinge credited part of his success to a clear plan against Sooryavanshi, calling the batter a “baby-faced batting assassin.” He said he had already seen Sooryavanshi’s game in an under-23 setting, where he had previously dismissed him with a bouncer, and then decided to challenge him with a similar idea during the IPL encounter.
“I had played an under-23 game with him. I had dismissed him with a bouncer. So, I thought if I bowl the same ball, he will hit it because he has been hitting everyone from the first ball. So, I thought that I should test him with a back of the length ball and he tried to hit and could not,” Hinge said.
Alongside match-day tactics, Hinge also pointed to the environment he encountered at SRH nets. He said being around big-hitters such as Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen helped him gain confidence because the training sessions reflect the intensity of real games.
“It’s their style of playing. They hit every ball. Our team is like that and they have the same approach on the net. Our approach in the nets is that the more we put bowlers under pressure, the more we consider it as a match,” Hinge explained.
He added that facing those batters regularly makes it easier for him to handle the demands of power-hitting, while still focusing on bowling his best deliveries.
- He says SRH nets mirror match pressure by forcing bowlers to perform under duress.
- Hinge notes Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen frequently hit sixes in training.
- His approach is to stay ready to bowl his “best ball” even when the batters are going hard.
Development pathway: MRF Pace Academy, Australia and mentorship
The Vidarbha pacer traced his growth to early coaching at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai, where he trained under a setup headed by Australian great Glenn McGrath. Hinge said the experience helped him understand what he could develop into as a fast bowler, and where he stood compared to peers from different states.
“There I got to know how much I can develop myself as a fast bowler as fast bowlers from every state came there to learn. So, I got to know where I stand and where I have to stand. So, then I started working on my skills. After that, I went to Australia as well,” he said.
He also described the Australia stint as a valuable learning curve, noting that the programme selected two boys each year for the opportunity.
“It was a very good experience. Every year, two boys were taken to Australia. So, when I bowled on their wickets and then came to India, it was very good.”
Hinge reserved special praise for Varun Aaron, the former India pacer with whom he has worked closely. He said Aaron understands the needs of fast bowlers and focuses on practical adjustments related to what the body requires, rather than offering anything overly complicated.
“He’s a fast bowler and he understands fast bowlers. So, the mutual understanding between fast bowlers is good and he works on what I feel is right. He doesn’t tell me anything extraordinary. He just tells me what my body needs,” Hinge said.
He concluded by stressing how important it is for young bowlers to have mentors and coaches who can help them keep developing their skills.
“It’s something that can help me in bowling. Amazing. So great to have fast bowling coaches and mentors like that around you so that you can develop your skills. He is a great person,” Hinge added.
