\u201cLast season, my name was on the auction list, but it didn\u2019t come up. I told my father not to worry, next season, it will,\u201d Hinge had assured him earlier, and it did.<\/p>\n
Before he could even watch his bid close, Hinge knew he had been picked. \u201cThe stream was delayed, and I started getting calls before I could even finish watching,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bought the Vidarbha fast bowler at his base price of Rs. 30 lakh. It was an emotional moment for the family, Hinge said, especially for his father, who had made him take up fast bowling.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the first day when I joined the academy, I picked up the bat because I thought, who wants to do fast bowling after coming this far? But my father was adamant. I started bowling. I used to chuck earlier, but gradually I trained and learned,\u201d Hinge told Sportstar.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old was confident that 2026 might be the year he finally got his IPL breakthrough, knowing that his trials with SRH, Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans had gone well.<\/p>\n
He made his debut against Rajasthan Royals and became the first bowler ever to pick three wickets in the first over of an IPL game, removing Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. In the next over, he got rid of RR captain Riyan Parag, finishing with four for 34.<\/p>\n
Getting into the Hyderabad-based side has also fulfilled his wish to meet and learn from Australia and SRH skipper Pat Cummins. \u201cI\u2019ve watched him from the start\u2013the way he bowls, the way he captains. I\u2019m really blessed to be in his team. He\u2019s someone who has silenced Indians in India,\u201d Hinge said.<\/p>\n
Hinge has also been training with the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai since 2022 and went to Brisbane for a 15-day camp in 2024, his first international trip. \u201cMore to come hopefully, when I play for India,\u201d he added with a smile. That experience of bowling alongside Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson helped him a lot when he made his First-Class debut against Pondicherry later that year.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ: Built on belief \u2014 How Aman Mokhade\u2019s resilience inspired Vidarbha to glory in Vijay Hazare Trophy<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was younger, Vidarbha won the Ranji Trophy for the first time in the 2017\u201318 season. Since then, I wanted to be part of the Ranji Trophy squad. Everyone who plays age-group cricket there wants to play in the Ranji Trophy,\u201d Hinge said.<\/p>\n In nine First Class games in so far, the right-arm quick has picked up 26 wickets at an average of 24.84. \u201cEveryone is passionate and performing, but this team is packed, so it\u2019s very difficult to break in. That\u2019s why we have great bench strength; whoever gets a chance will do well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n Hinge (centre) believes more in hard work than luck and feels that will yield results in the long run. Hinge was also part of Vidarbha\u2019s maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title-winning squad\u2013a campaign driven by collective belief, where he played his part, picking five wickets in as many games.<\/p>\n In the league game against Baroda in Rajkot, where India all-rounder Hardik Pandya scored 133 off 92 balls to take his side to 293 for nine, Hinge conceded just 47 and picked a wicket. \u201cAfter the game, Hardik bhai came and told me that I bowled well. When someone like him says that, it gives you confidence that I am on the right path.\u201d<\/p>\n After the final against Saurashtra in Bengaluru, Vidarbha didn\u2019t have much time to celebrate as the focus immediately shifted back to the Ranji Trophy, with the match against Andhra in Anantapur looming within three days.<\/p>\n![\"Hinge](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/5xwtot\/article70552081.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/9869_4_11_2025_14_53_41_1__DSC2766.JPG\" "\\"Hinge")
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\n M. Periasamy\n <\/p>\n![\"lightbox-info\"\/](\"https:\/\/assetsss.thehindu.com\/theme\/images\/SSRX\/lightbox-info.svg\")
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\n | Photo Credit:
\n M. Periasamy\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n