Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain Drive SRH to 57-Run Victory Over RR
Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) delivered a commanding 57-run victory over the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The match featured a 91-run innings from SRH captain Ishan Kishan and dominant four-wicket hauls from debutant fast bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain.
Match Summary: SRH vs RR
Batting first, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a massive total of 216/6. The Rajasthan Royals chase was derailed immediately by an aggressive opening spell from Hinge, with the visitors ultimately falling 57 runs short of the target.
| Metric | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Rajasthan Royals (RR) |
|---|---|---|
| Innings Score | 216/6 (20 Overs) | 159 All Out |
| Top Batsman | Ishan Kishan: 91 runs (44 balls) | Data unavailable |
| Top Bowlers | Praful Hinge: 4/34 Sakib Hussain: 4/24 |
Data unavailable |
Hinge and Hussain: A Debut to Remember
Praful Hinge initiated the RR batting collapse by claiming three wickets in his first over, shifting the Indian Premier League encounter firmly in SRH’s favor. He finished his opening spell with figures of 2-0-6-4 and ended the match with 4/34, earning Player of the Match honors.
“I wrote it down somewhere that I could take four or five wickets on debut,” Hinge said during the post-match presentation. “I thought of dominating the powerplay. I believe in manifestation.” Hinge, who began playing club cricket at age 13, dedicated the award to his family.
Targeting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Hinge executed a specific plan to dismiss RR opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. “I had told people that I would bowl a bouncer to him and get him out,” Hinge explained. He credited SRH bowling coach Varun Aaron for helping design the strategy.
Fellow debutant Sakib Hussain mirrored Hinge’s success, returning figures of 4/24. Hussain attributed his rapid development to Aaron’s mentorship over the past four years, noting he was informed of his debut a day prior, allowing him ample time to prepare mentally.
Captains’ Perspectives
SRH skipper Ishan Kishan commended the preparation and motivation of his rookie pacers. According to match data tracked by ESPNcricinfo, fielding two debutant fast bowlers who both take four wickets is a rare statistical anomaly in T20 cricket.
- Ishan Kishan on Leadership: Operating as a wicketkeeper-captain presents communication challenges. Kishan emphasized the importance of proactive field placement and direct bowler discussions to maintain strategic alignment.
- Riyan Parag on the Defeat: The RR captain acknowledged his unfamiliarity with the SRH debutants, noting he had only faced Hussain once previously in domestic competition (Bihar vs. Assam). Parag also admitted that bowling second might have been a tactical miscalculation given the sticky pitch conditions with the new ball.
With this performance, SRH snapped RR’s five-match unbeaten streak, securing a significant win in the ongoing tournament organized by the BCCI.