On April 13, 2026, a 24-year-old right-arm seamer from Vidarbha did what no bowler had done in 19 years of the Indian Premier League. Making his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against the Rajasthan Royals, Praful Hinge became the first-ever bowler to claim three wickets in the very first over of an innings.
In a fiery opening spell at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hinge dismantled the Royals’ top order by dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius—all for ducks.
Praful Hinge Player Profile & Biography
Full Name: Praful Hinge
Age: 24 years old
Role: Right-arm medium-fast bowler
Domestic Team: Vidarbha
IPL Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Auction Price: ₹30 Lakh (IPL 2026 Auction)
Praful Hinge: Career Snapshot
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Avg/Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL (T20) | 1 | 4 | 4/18 | 8.50 |
| First-Class | 10 | 27 | 4/60 | 26.67 |
| List A | 6 | 5 | 2/54 | 6.06 |
From Vidarbha to the Big Stage: The Road to IPL
Before his record-breaking night, Hinge was known primarily as a red-ball specialist. He made his First-Class debut in October 2024 and quickly became a mainstay for Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy, where he claimed 27 wickets in his first 10 matches at an average of 26.7. Despite having played only one professional T20 match (for Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy) before his IPL call-up, his ability to swing the new ball at a high pace caught the eye of the SRH scouts.
Sandeep has built a reputation as one of the most effective “underrated” bowlers in the league’s history:
Debut: He made a stellar IPL debut for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2013, taking 3 wickets for 21 runs.
Powerplay Specialist: He holds the record for the second-most Powerplay wickets in IPL history, trailing only Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
The “Big Three” Feat: In 2017, he became the first bowler to dismiss the trio of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers in the same match.
Resurgence with RR: After going unsold in the 2023 auction, he was brought in by Rajasthan Royals as an injury replacement. He has since become their primary death-overs specialist, known for his accurate yorkers and knuckleballs.
Early Life & Career Beginnings
Background: Born on May 18, 1993, in Patiala, Punjab, Sandeep grew up in a modest family. Interestingly, he began his cricket journey as a batsman for his school team before his coach convinced him to switch to seam bowling.
U-19 Success: He rose to prominence during the 2012 Under-19 World Cup, where he was instrumental in India’s title win. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker for India with 12 scalps and famously took 4/54 in the final against Australia.
International & Domestic Play
Team India: Following strong domestic seasons, he earned an India call-up for a T20I tour of Zimbabwe in 2015, making two appearances.
Domestic: Originally a mainstay for Punjab, he moved to Chandigarh ahead of the 2021-22 season to seek more opportunities.
3 Things You Didn't Know About Praful Hinge
Historic Over: While 32 bowlers have taken two wickets in the first over of an IPL innings, Hinge is the first to take three.
Powerplay Specialist: His debut figures of 4/18 put him in an elite list alongside names like Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami for most wickets taken inside the powerplay.
Family Inspiration: Hinge has often credited his sister for being the primary inspiration behind his cricketing journey, supporting him during his lean years in Vidarbha’s age-group cricket.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
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