Who are Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain?

It is uncommon for bowlers to leave a significant mark on their IPL debut, but two uncapped Indian pacers achieved exactly that in the same match. Only five Indian bowlers in IPL history have taken a four-wicket haul on debut, and Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain added their names to that list while emerging as unexpected heroes for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Praful Hinge, a 24-year-old right-arm seamer from Vidarbha, has primarily built his experience in red-ball cricket. He joined Vidarbha’s senior red-ball team during the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy and has featured in 10 matches. His exposure to T20 cricket has been limited, with his only other appearance coming in the 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he shared the new ball with Umesh Yadav and dismissed Andhra captain Ricky Bhui.

Signed by SRH for INR 30 lakh at his base price, Hinge began his cricket journey at the age of 13 after persuading his father to allow him to join an academy. Known for his hit-the-deck style, he has previously dealt with a back injury. Reflecting after the match, he credited the physios at the MRF Pace Academy for aiding his recovery, where he also trained under Glenn McGrath and worked closely with SRH pace bowling coach Varun Aaron.

Shortly after making his Ranji debut in 2024, Hinge returned to represent Vidarbha Under-23s in the One-Day Cup, finishing as their third-highest wicket-taker. He also impressed in the 2025 Vidarbha Pro T20 League, claiming eight wickets in six matches at an average of 25.75 and an economy rate below nine, contributing to NECO Master Blaster’s title-winning campaign.

Speaking after his debut performance, Hinge said: “Last year, I had written it somewhere that I will take four or five wickets on my debut”.

Sakib Hussain, who shared the new ball with Hinge, featured as an Impact Sub for Travis Head. He was also picked by SRH for INR 30 lakh, matching his base price. Two years earlier, he had been signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 20 lakh but did not get an opportunity to play.

Hailing from Gopalganj in Bihar, Hussain comes from a modest background, with his father working as a farmer and being the sole earning member of the family. Initially aspiring to join the army, he instead began playing local tennis-ball cricket. As his cricket journey progressed, financial challenges affected the family, with his mother selling her jewellery to fund his first pair of spikes.

The 21-year-old has represented Bihar in both first-class and T20 formats, making his senior debut in the 2022/23 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His first outing, at the age of 17, proved difficult as he conceded 27 runs in two overs. However, he finished that season strongly with a four-wicket haul against Gujarat, which earned him a stint as a nets bowler for Chennai Super Kings.

Still in his teens, Hussain returned for the 2024/25 SMAT but went wicketless in four of his five matches. In the latest edition, he picked up five wickets at an average of 29.6.

In red-ball cricket, Hussain has continued to develop. During the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy, he impressed against Punjab with a four-wicket haul despite his team suffering an innings defeat. He also registered a ten-wicket match haul against Arunachal Pradesh last year.