A DREAM debut in Indian Premier League (IPL) made Nagpur’s very own Praful Prakash Hinge a sort of star overnight. With name and fame, comes recognition and the world wants to know more about the new-born sensation. And, who better to tell his story than his family. Praful did what no bowler had done in the previous 18 editions of the cash-rich and arguably the most popular cricket league in the world. The tall Vidarbha right-arm seamer took three wickets in very first over of the innings ... and that too on his debut. Playing his first game for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Praful sent home the trio of Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel and Lhuan-dre Pretorius without letting them score.

 

On last ball of his second over, Praful removed skipper Riyan Parag and his spell, that read 2-0-6-4, paved the way for team’s huge 57-run victory. After getting to know that Praful would be making his debut, father Prakash was confident that his son would make most of the opportunity. “When I saw his name in playing XI on TV, we all were excited. Actually, his name was also in the playing XI (Impact Player) in the last match but he could not make debut then. I was happy to see that he got a chance and knew that he will do something. “I also had this confidence that he will bowl the first over as he has been doing so for Vidarbha.

 

While warming up, I saw (skipper Ishan) Kishan making him certain gestures and was confirmed that he will bowl the first over. Praful’s body language looked positive though there was pressure of bowling at such a huge platform in front of so many people. “After he bowled first ball to (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, I knew he was relaxed. To me that was as good as a wicket-taking ball. The second ball bowled to Vaibhav was with planning ... and he made ‘mahol’ with it. We know cricket is an unpredictable game ... a batter who has scored heavily may get out soon ... and that happened. “It was a great planning by SRH and he executed it perfectly. After the first run, the ‘W’ and ‘0’ that followed made a record in the IPL. On a debut, it was a huge thing ... nobody expects such a debut ... and that too in IPL where dhurandar batsmen wants to hit first ball over the ropes. It was a dream come true moment,” Prakash was ecstatic as he recalled the record-making first over while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.

 

“After that over, ‘basti ke log’, his friends all came to our house. The phone started ringing and it almost got hanged. I could not see the match. Yash Thorat, VCA’s side-arm specialist and Praful’s good friend, along with Neco Master Blaster guys had come to make VDO in the night. Neco boss Anand Jaiswal congratulated us and sent both of his sons with cake which we cut well past mid-night,” he said about the celebrations. The next day (Tuesday) was full of joyful fatigue for the family. “The phone did not stop ringing the entire day. I talked to 40-50 journalists from all over the country and could not even respond to over 150 (missed) calls. I had no time to take food all day. I am very happy but at the same time exhausted,” said the senior Hinge with smile on his face. It was a proud moment for the family when Praful dedicated his Player of the Match award to his parents during the post-match presentation ceremony. “It felt great to hear that he dedicated his award to the family.

 

No parent can describe such feelings in words. We thought ‘chalo bhai bachcha matured ho gaya hai’. Sharing dressing room with big international players not only help these youngsters gain experience ... they also learn to speak well,” said Prakash. Praful has a habit of writing a diary right from his early days. “He has that habit of having manifestos. Right from the days he used to go to the club, he used to have a diary. Both he and his sister Pragati, who is a CA now, used to have their manifestos written in their diaries. Once I read his diary (he still does not know) and then knew that he has his manifestos. Praful had told a few of his friends that he will get Vaibhav out on first ball with a bouncer,” the father informed about son’s wishes.

 

Praful, who took his first cricket lessons at Reshimbagh Gymkhana under Shishir Sudame, never looked back after being picked by VCA in its Under-16 team. “After his first instinct at Reshimbag, he has been training under various coaches. During an U-14 trial, he was not selected and that made him work more hard. From 4-5 hours a day, he doubled his practice timings and then got selected in the U-16 VCA squad. Since then he has been with the Vidarbha team,” said Prakash. On preferring bowling, the father said that it was his suggestion and that the son obliged. “When I was with him once during his club days, I asked him to take on fast bowling as everyone wanted to pick bat and hit fours and sixes. I told him if you bowl, there were more chances that you will play and get to bat also. A batter will only bat. I asked him to become an all-rounder with 75 per cent focus on bowling. “His idols are Pat Cummins and Umesh Yadav. Praful got a lot of motivation from Glenn McGrath. He had a good stint in Australia two years ago when he was sent there by the MRF Academy,” informed Prakash. Praful sticks to his dreams and hopes to play for India one day. “He has a very good habit that he sticks to his dreams. ‘Jaan laga deta hai’. After IPL, everyone wants to play for India and Praful also dreams of donning that Blue Jersey one day. He has that in his manifesto,” senior Hinge signed off. 

 

 

“I HAD written this somewhere that I will take 4-5 wickets on my debut. I thought of dominating the powerplay. I believe in it (manifestation),” Hinge told the broadcaster after the match. “I had told people that I would bowl a bouncer to him and get him out. I just wanted to get him out. Varun bhai (our bowling coach) helped me plan it, so thank you,” he said. SRH skipper Ishan Kishan said it was crucial for his side to gauge the hunger in their uncapped fast bowlers Hinge and Sakib Hussain. “You also have to look how hungry your young bowlers are, how motivated they feel and you know how much they are hungry to play these games and I think they were working out throughout the season,” he said. “They were working with fielding, our bowling coach Varun Aaron and they were just trying to give their best, talking to all the experienced players. They especially did well in the practice matches as well, so I think this was the right move today,” Kishan added. (With inputs from PTI)