Hyderabad, April 13: Rajasthan Royals' unbeaten run came crashing down in dramatic fashion as debutant Praful Hinge produced a sensational opening over for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scripting a historic moment in IPL history.
Dream Debut Turns Into Record-Breaking Night
On a surface buzzing with anticipation, Hinge needed just six deliveries to announce himself on the biggest stage. While the IPL has witnessed 32 instances of bowlers taking two wickets in the first over, no one had ever gone one better-until now.
The young pacer not only struck thrice but did so against an in-form Rajasthan Royals top order, reducing them to 1/3 inside the very first over. The Riyan Parag-led Rajasthan Royals side were chasing a daunting target of 217.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, the only previous instance of a double
strike in the first over came from Bhuvneshwar Kumar against Rajasthan Royals at the same venue in 2024. Hinge, however, went a step further to create history.
First Over Carnage: Ball-by-Ball Breakdown
Hinge's opening over was pure theatre:
- 0.2: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (0) - rushed into a miscued pull, caught safely.
- 0.4: Dhruv Jurel (0) - inside edge crashes into the stumps.
- 0.6: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (0) - flicked straight to deep backward square leg.
Three wickets. Three ducks. Total chaos.
What made the spell even more remarkable was that not all deliveries were unplayable-yet pressure, pace, and occasion combined to force errors from Rajasthan's batters.
Rajasthan Royals Shell-Shocked Early
Coming into the contest unbeaten, Rajasthan Royals were expected to continue their dominant run. Instead, they found themselves rocked within minutes, with their top order dismantled before they could settle.
The early collapse exposed their middle order and completely shifted momentum in favour of Sunrisers Hyderabad, with the Uppal crowd erupting in disbelief.
Praful Hinge: From Struggles to Stardom
Hinge's incredible debut performance is rooted in a story of resilience. His journey to the IPL has been shaped by family sacrifices, particularly the support of his sister, who played a crucial role in helping him pursue cricket.
Drawing inspiration from Indian pacers like Umesh Yadav, Hinge worked his way through domestic cricket before earning his IPL opportunity-and he made it count instantly.
A Star is Born in Hyderabad
On a night when Rajasthan Royals crumbled, Praful Hinge delivered a performance that will be remembered for years.
A debut. A record. A statement.
Sunrisers Hyderabad may just have found their next pace sensation, and the IPL has a new name to watch closely.
