Praful Hinge is a 23-year-old uncapped Indian right-arm medium-fast bowler from Vidarbha who earned his maiden IPL contract after being picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for Rs 30 lakh (his base price) at the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
After initially going unsold in the early rounds, SRH later stepped in to add the young seamer to their pace-bowling reserves, backing his domestic potential and swing-bowling ability.
A swing bowler from Vidarbha’s pace pipeline
Born on January 18, 2002, Praful Hinge is known for his ability to move the ball both in the air and off the seam, making him effective in helpful conditions. While he does not rely on extreme pace, his strength lies in control, discipline, and consistency—qualities valued in red-ball cricket and adaptable to T20 formats.
He has been part of Vidarbha’s senior Ranji Trophy setup, gaining experience against quality domestic batters.
Domestic career snapshot
Although his opportunities at the highest domestic level have been limited so far, Hinge has delivered encouraging performances when given chances.
First-class cricket (Ranji Trophy):
- Matches: 9
- Wickets: 26
- Bowling average: 24.84
- Best figures: 4/60
List A cricket:
- Matches: 1
T20s:
- Matches: 1
- Wickets: 1
- Best figures: 1/23
These numbers underline him as a bowler still in the development phase, but one who has shown the ability to take wickets at a steady rate.
IPL 2026 auction journey
Praful Hinge entered the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a base price of Rs 30 lakh. Despite being one of eight Vidarbha players shortlisted, he did not receive bids initially. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad later secured him at base price, viewing him as a depth addition to their Indian fast-bowling unit.
Why Sunrisers Hyderabad went for him
SRH’s decision to sign Hinge reflects a low-risk, developmental strategy:
- Indian pace depth at minimal cost
- Swing-bowling option for varied conditions
- Player who can be groomed within a strong bowling setup
- Potential red-ball-to-white-ball transition candidate
At Rs 30 lakh, the franchise has little downside while retaining upside if Hinge progresses.
What lies ahead
Praful Hinge is unlikely to be an immediate starter in IPL 2026, but his inclusion gives him access to elite coaching, fitness resources, and exposure to international bowlers. For a young pacer still establishing himself domestically, an IPL contract is a significant step forward.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Praful Hinge represents future depth rather than instant impact—a calculated bet on a Vidarbha pacer still early in his growth curve.
