New Delhi, September 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Praful Hinge’s three-wicket opening over for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals turned him into an overnight sensation during IPL 2026. Now, with his first India A assignment approaching, the right-arm fast bowler is keeping his approach simple: focus on the next delivery and stay in the present.
Hinge is set to feature in the red-ball series against Australia A in Puducherry, beginning September 22.
“I don’t think too much in my brain about what will happen next or what may not happen. I just focus on the present – like what I have to do with the ball in hand in a match. I just focus on bowling one ball at a time,” Hinge told IANS ahead of the series.
“As a bowler, there are a lot of challenges and I love those challenges. When the ball comes, I just have to do my bowling. I’ll do my best. The rest, and whatever happens, will have to happen,” he added.
Hinge learned about his India A selection through a friend while he was away from his home in Nagpur. He said he checked the BCCI website himself before the significance of the call-up fully sank in.
“To see that for real, I saw on the BCCI website and it began to sink in that I was in India ‘A’ team. This is what is going on right now – if you work hard, you’ll definitely get something. I’ve been playing red-ball cricket since Ranji Trophy and red-ball cricket has been my favourite format since childhood,” he said.
Since the IPL ended, Hinge has continued bowling regularly. He took eight wickets in the Vidarbha Pro T20 League and also featured in Under-25 emerging matches at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, maintaining his rhythm with an eye on future opportunities.
He also attended part of an off-season camp with SRH, where he said the workload and fitness sessions helped him remain prepared.
Hinge, who was largely known only within domestic cricket circles before his IPL breakthrough, said the increased recognition has changed life off the field, although he does not pay much attention to social media.
“A lot of people do recognise me. Now, everyone knows me wherever I go. So, it feels really good,” he said.
His family in Nagpur has also noticed the impact of his IPL performances, with Hinge saying his parents and other family members now receive greater recognition.
Hinge credited former India fast bowler and SRH fast-bowling coach Varun Aaron for closely monitoring his development since the IPL.
“After the IPL, he’s always been following me. Like, what are you doing? How’s the training and bowling going? Once or twice, I went for bowling with him. I even bowled with the red-ball in a camp,” Hinge said.
Aaron has also helped him make adjustments to his bowling action. Hinge said Aaron’s own experiences with injuries and setbacks have helped him understand the challenges involved in fast bowling.
Hinge has also sought advice from former India fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji and P Krishnakumar, who work with fast bowlers at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
“I asked them a lot about the little things I can do better in a bowling situation, and what we can’t do. I always used to ask them about whatever I could think of – in terms of questions about fast bowling and related topics,” he said.
Hinge made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2024 and has taken 27 wickets in 10 first-class matches. Having already played a Ranji Trophy game in Puducherry, he expects the conditions there to be familiar, although the afternoon heat could present an additional challenge for pacers.
“The sooner I can adapt to the conditions, the better it is as bowling in the afternoon is a bit tough. But doing tough things is a habit now for me. So, it will be good when the matches happen,” he said.
The presence of fellow Vidarbha players Yash Rathod, Nachiketa Bhute and Aman Mokhade in the India A squad should also help Hinge settle into the new environment.
“Yes, the environment where we play for Vidarbha will be there and it will feel like everyone is going to play together. It’ll feel good to be in those surroundings,” he said.
With the Australia A series only days away, Hinge is looking forward to wearing India A colours for the first time.
“It’s just a few days away. I’m more excited for it, as this is what everyone practices for,” he concluded.
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