Prafulla Hinge was born on January 18, 2002, in Nagpur, Maharashtra. His father, Prakash Hinge, worked for the Maharashtra State Electricity Board, and his sister is a Chartered Accountant. For the family, education always came first, but Prafulla was obsessed with cricket since childhood.
“He would play cricket in the streets all day. Finally, I was forced to enroll him in an academy, and from then on, the field became his home,” said his father, Prakash Hinge.
His cricketing journey began at the local Reshimbagh Gymkhana at his father’s insistence. Initially, Prafulla wanted to be a batsman, but based on his father’s observation and advice, he focused on pace bowling.
U-14 Trial Failure
In 2015, Prafulla failed his first Vidarbha Cricket Association Under-14 trial. His father thought he might quit out of frustration, but Prafulla became even more determined. The following year, he made it into the Under-16 team, and there was no looking back.
The Journey with Vidarbha
His journey began through the Vidarbha Cricket Association. At one point, he had issues with his bowling action, but through hard work, he completely rebuilt it. In 2024, he made his First-Class debut in the Ranji Trophy against Puducherry. He took 11 wickets in 4 matches in his first season, and Vidarbha won the Ranji Trophy. Later, in the 2025-26 season, Vidarbha also won the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where Prafulla played a crucial role. He caught everyone’s attention by taking 15 wickets in 7 matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Back Injury and the Fight to Return
The darkest chapter of Prafulla’s career came with a back injury. A stress fracture almost ended his career. “When Prafulla injured his back, we thought his cricket was over,” said his father.
During this time, Varun Aaron came like a savior. Former Indian pacer Prashant Vaidya recommended sending Prafulla to the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. There, under the supervision of coach M. Senthilnathan and Varun Aaron, Prafulla completed a 6-month training program.
International Exposure through Glenn McGrath
The director of MRF Pace Foundation, Australian legend Glenn McGrath, was impressed by Prafulla’s line and length. He took Prafulla to Brisbane, where he trained at Cricket Australia’s High Performance Centre. This 20-25 day camp was the turning point of his career. There, he practiced with Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson.
IPL Dream Journey: From Failure to Success
In the 2024 Mega Auction, Prafulla went unsold. He promised his father he would get a chance next time. On the day of the December 2025 Mini-Auction, Prafulla was sitting in a temple in Nagpur watching the auction on his mobile. When Sunrisers Hyderabad called his name, he lay on the floor to thank God. He was sold for his base price of ₹30 lakh.
Historic Debut: Making IPL History
April 13, 2026. Opponent: Rajasthan Royals. IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
His father didn’t know he was playing. After turning on the TV at night, he saw Prafulla’s name on the screen. What happened next stunned the cricket world. Chasing a target of 216, Prafulla took 3 wickets for just 1 run in the very first over of Rajasthan’s innings. He dismissed Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a Golden Duck (0 off 1 ball) and sent Dhruv Jurel and Luan-dre Pretorius back for Silver Ducks (0 off 2 balls). He is the first bowler in IPL history to take three wickets in the first over of an innings. He finished with figures of 4 wickets for 34 runs in 4 overs and was named Player of the Match.
Bowling Statistics
| Format | Innings | Balls | Maiden | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Economy | Average | 4W | 5W |
| IPL | 1 | 24 | 0 | 34 | 4 | 4/34 | 8.50 | 8.50 | 1 | 0 |
| First Class (FC) | 8 | 1524 | 50 | 720 | 27 | 4/60 | 2.84 | 26.67 | 1 | 0 |
| List A | 6 | 300 | 13 | 303 | 5 | 2/54 | 6.06 | 60.60 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 (Domestic) | 24 | 420 | 5 | 505 | 44 | 4/34 | 7.13 | 11.40 | 1 | 0 |
Debut
| Format | Debut Date | Opponent Team | Bowling Performance |
| IPL | April 13, 2026 | Rajasthan Royals | 4 Overs / 34 Runs / 4 Wickets |
| First Class (FC) | October 18, 2024 | Puducherry | 20 Overs / 51 Runs / 3 Wickets |
| List A | January 5, 2025 | Mizoram | 6 Overs / 20 Runs / 0 Wickets |
| T20 (Domestic) | December 8, 2025 | Andhra | 4 Overs / 23 Runs / 1 Wicket |
Personal Life and Assets
As of 2026, Prafulla Hinge’s total net worth is approximately ₹30 to 50 lakhs. He owns a Mahindra Thar valued at about ₹20.46 lakh. He currently shares the Sunrisers Hyderabad dressing room with stars like Pat Cummins and Varun Aaron.
Tribute to Umesh Yadav
His idol is Umesh Yadav. Prafulla learned a lot from Umesh while sharing the Vidarbha dressing room. “Umesh Yadav’s journey inspires me. His story makes me feel that I have to be like him,” Prafulla said.
Personal Profile
| Feature | Description |
| Full Name | Praful Prakash Hinge |
| Favorite Player | Pat Cummins |
| Date of Birth | January 18, 2002 (Age 24) |
| Place of Birth | Nagpur, Maharashtra, India |
| Current Residence | Nagpur, Maharashtra, India |
| Country | India |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Father’s Name | Prakash Hinge |
| Mother’s Name | Vandana Hinge |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Role | Right-arm Medium-Fast Bowler |
| Net Worth | Approx. ₹30 to 50 Lakhs |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much was Prafulla Hinge sold for in the 2026 IPL auction and which team does he play for?
Prafulla Hinge was sold for ₹30 lakh in the 2026 IPL auction and plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
When was Prafulla Hinge’s IPL debut and against which team?
His debut was on April 13, 2026, against Rajasthan Royals (RR). He took 4 wickets for 34 runs and set a record by taking 3 wickets in the first over.
What are his parents’ names?
His father’s name is Prakash Hinge and his mother’s name is Vandana Hinge.
What is his birth date and age?
He was born on January 18, 2002, and he is 24 years old.
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