The Makings of Praful Hinge – From Injury Setback to IPL Breakthrough Moment; Ft. Atharva Taide
Auction day in the IPL is a theatre of anticipation, where players wait, watching and hoping to hear their names being called. If not all, most players, especially uncapped ones, are glued to their screens to see when their names will go under the hammer. While the auction was taking place, a spiritual Praful Hinge was at a temple, where he learnt that he had been picked by SRH for INR 30 lakh.
Hinge was elated but not entirely surprised, as SRH’s current bowling coach, Varun Aaron, had been in touch with him from the beginning. Despite having played just one senior-level T20 match, Hinge was expecting SRH to bid for him. In the dynamics of an auction, one can never be certain about what will happen, but fortunately for Hinge, he did not have to travel far from his home in Nagpur in search of an IPL team.
In a squad of 25, his chances of getting an opportunity to play for the Orange Army were slim. However, an injury to one of his bowling idols, Pat Cummins, along with expensive spells from the capped Indian pace bowlers, opened the door of opportunity.
He was initially set to make his debut against LSG. Stand-in captain Ishan Kishan had even indicated that Praful Hinge would feature in the match. However, Jaydev Unadkat was preferred as the Impact Player. It eventually took SRH four matches to unleash the pace sensation.
“I asked him if he was playing that game; he said he might, as he was in the list of Impact Players,” Atharva Taide, Hinge’s Vidarbha teammate, said while speaking to RevSportz. “He didn’t play that game, but I could sense from that conversation that he wasn’t under any pressure. He was eager to go out there and perform.”
Hinge remained patient as he waited for his opportunity. On Monday, when he finally made his much-awaited debut, he took the IPL by storm.
Bowling the first over, Hinge got off to a dream start as he bagged three wickets, including the crucial scalp of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, one of the most impactful batters of the ongoing IPL in the Powerplay. His other wickets included in-form batter Dhruv Jurel, RR captain Riyan Parag, and the promising Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Batters seemed surprised by the deceptive pace and carry he generated. While his performance came as a surprise to many, for Taide, it was along expected lines.
“He was brilliant. As you can see, he’s very quick, especially when you’re facing him in the nets. So you have to be careful when facing him,” noted Taide.
Given the competition in the team, Hinge was not getting regular opportunities. At times, a lack of chances can frustrate a youngster, but that was not the case with the ever-optimistic Hinge, who never lost hope.
“The best part about Praful Hinge is that he never lost hope or gave up when he didn’t get many chances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season. He waited patiently for his turn and showed his talent when he finally got an opportunity,” Taide added.
There was a time in Hinge’s journey when his progress was halted by a career-threatening back injury during his U-23 days, a phase that could have easily derailed his ambitions. Instead, it became a test of resolve. Through rehabilitation and quiet perseverance, he worked his way back, eventually earning a place in Vidarbha’s senior side.
Those who had watched him from his early days, like Taide, saw more than just a comeback. They noticed a cricketer driven by curiosity and an unrelenting desire to improve. To Taide, it is this very hunger to learn and evolve that shapes Hinge into what he calls a “lethal weapon”.
“When Praful first came into the team, he was very inquisitive and eager to learn, and that is his biggest strength. He is always looking to improve and discuss his bowling,” recalled Taide. “His ability to swing the new ball at pace and execute yorkers at the death makes him a lethal weapon.”
Off the field, the 24-year-old Hinge is a jovial character. Unlike many youngsters, he prefers not to visit clubs or parties during his free time.
“As a person, he is very light-hearted and hardworking. He doesn’t like going to clubs or partying; instead, he is very spiritual,” Hinge’s friend told RevSportz after the SRH-RR game.
Taide, who was with SRH last year, also highlighted how welcoming a franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad is for a newcomer like Hinge.
“SRH is a very welcoming franchise. You never feel like a newcomer there. That is what has given Praful the confidence to back himself and execute his skills right away in his debut game,” he said.
Hinge has begun his IPL career in a manner many can only dream of. Dreams may grant you an entry, but it is discipline that keeps you there. For him, the task now is simple in thought yet demanding in execution, to keep landing the right lengths and to let his influence grow with every outing.
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