An auction moment away from the celebrations
Praful Hinge was watching the IPL auction on his phone in a temple when Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him. The first response was gratitude; the emotional family reunion came afterwards. Speaking to Cric Insights soon after his selection, the Vidarbha fast bowler described a home full of visitors and congratulations, alongside a practice routine that had already resumed. Selection had changed the scale of the opportunity, but not the need to prepare for it.
When he returned home, his parents were emotional. His sister, who was travelling back from work in Mumbai, missed his first call and later called him on video. Hinge remembered the moment as a shared achievement rather than an individual celebration. His account of that day also explains why family occupies so much of this conversation.
The family example behind the fast bowler
Hinge described a middle-class upbringing and a father who had recently retired from government service. His sister is a chartered accountant. Watching her study late into the night became a practical lesson in the effort needed to achieve something difficult. He would leave for morning practice while she was still studying; the example stayed with him.
Support at home also took everyday forms: meals prepared for early departures, help getting to the ground and the freedom to pursue cricket without constant interference. His father had bowled fast himself. Hinge initially picked up a bat at his club, but his father encouraged him to try pace bowling. That suggestion set the direction of his cricket.
Learning the route through Vidarbha cricket
Hinge said he began organised cricket at around 13. At first he wanted to play for India without understanding the steps between club cricket, association trials, age-group teams and the Ranji Trophy. Other players helped him learn how the system worked. He progressed through Under-16, Under-19 and Under-23 cricket before reaching the senior setup.
Looking back at his early Ranji opportunity, he recalled being away on Under-23 duty when a call from the senior coaching setup told him to be ready. His response was to trust the preparation already done rather than treat the occasion as something to fear. Injury later interrupted his season and kept him away from the celebrations around Vidarbha’s title-winning team. He spoke about the disappointment of missing that shared moment without presenting it as the end of his progress.
Clear roles and healthy competition
The inaugural Vidarbha Pro T20 League gave him another environment in which to learn. Hinge particularly valued captain Jitesh Sharma’s reassurance after an opening defeat and the way responsibilities were explained to players. In his recollection, clarity helped the group recover and eventually win the final.
The senior Vidarbha attack offered a different challenge: competition for places. Hinge knew that other capable bowlers were waiting behind him. He described each opportunity as something to make count, and each successful match as another step in building confidence.
What happened at the SRH trials
At the franchise trials, the demands were specific. Bowlers were assessed in the powerplay and given targets in match situations; death-over work required them to attempt the deliveries asked of them. Hinge said he was able to execute the plans he had been given. He also recalled positive feedback about his red-ball performances, including a match against Tamil Nadu.
Varun Aaron was an important point of contact. Hinge had met him before the trial, received encouragement during the process and heard from him again after selection. The conversation was about keeping his work going and preparing for the next level. Although Hinge said his role had been discussed, he did not disclose a detailed franchise plan in this interview.
Natural inswing, yorkers and the next improvements
Asked to describe his own bowling, Hinge put his operating pace at around 140–145 km/h and identified inswing as his natural delivery. That speed range is his own account in the interview, not a separately recorded speed-gun measurement. At the death, the yorker is the ball he trusts most. He also uses slower bouncers and considers which delivery is likely to restrict a particular batter.
His improvement list was deliberately practical: fitness, a stronger hard-length option, more reliable yorkers and new variations. He was especially excited about meeting Pat Cummins, whom he described as an idol. A previous MRF-linked visit to Australia had not produced that meeting; joining SRH now offered the prospect of learning under his captaincy. Hinge admired not just Cummins’ bowling but his calmness on the field. For a young pacer preparing for a bigger stage, that composure was part of the appeal.