Hyderabad: What Praful Hinge did at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday night had not been achieved in IPL’s 18-year history.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad medium-pacer dismissed three batters in the very first over of the Rajasthan Royal innings. That, too, in his debut appearance in the popular, highly competitive T20 league.
Among Hinge’s victims were India’s wonderboy Vaibhav Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who fell for a golden duck after scoring 200 runs in 75 balls in the previous 4 games, and the in-form Dhruv Jurel.
The high-flying Rajasthan Royals, who had won their first four games, didn’t know what them as Hinge added a fourth wicket in his second over as the visiting team was reduced to 9/5.
Rajasthan didn’t recover from those early tremors and succumbed to a 59-run loss. No prizes for guessing Hinge was adjudged Man of the Match.
In a matter of minutes, he broke the internet and became a viral sensation.
Within hours of making his IPL debut, Hinge’s popularity went through the roof. From around 4,000 before the game started, his followers on Instagram crossed 4.17 lakh – a 1000% increase in no time!
Who is Praful Hinge?
Born on 18th January, 2002, Nagpur boy Hinge is a medium-pacer who made his first-class debut for Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy in October 2024.
His first T20 match at the national level was just four months ago, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Hinge’s record in the BCCI domestic circuit is nothing earth-shattering, having captured 27 wickets in 10 first-class matches, 5 wickets in 6 List A games and 5 scalps in 2 T20 fixtures.
Sunrisers Hyderabad still handed Hinge a debut, desperate for victory after losing 2 of 3 matches in IPL 2026. And Hinge didn’t let Sunrisers down.
