Irfan Pathan Praises SRH's Debutant Bowlers After Dominant Win Over RR

Impressive Debut for SRH's Young Pacers

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 14: Former cricketer Irfan Pathan has commended the debut performances of pace bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their match against Rajasthan Royals (RR). He noted that their contributions brought essential pace, variation, bounce, and much-needed "extra firepower" to the team.

In a thrilling encounter, the debutants played a crucial role in dismantling RR's batting lineup, reducing them to a mere 9/5 before they were all out for 159 while chasing a target of 217 runs. This came after Ishan Kishan's explosive innings of 91 runs helped SRH set a formidable total of 216/6.

During a discussion on JioStar's 'Match Centre Live', Pathan highlighted the significance of the pace and variation offered by the new bowlers, particularly praising Sakib's wrist position and his effectiveness in the middle overs. He described Praful as a skilled new-ball bowler capable of executing yorkers with precision.

Pathan remarked, "The standout aspect was their ability to provide both pace and variation, which is exactly what SRH required. They began with impressive speed and bounce, and as the game progressed, their variations became evident. Sakib was particularly remarkable, using his wrist position to create sharp turns and deceptive slower balls, even on a dry pitch. Praful Hinge's effectiveness with the new ball and yorkers, combined with Sakib's control in the middle overs, significantly enhances their bowling lineup," he stated.

He further emphasized that the duo's performance was a significant boost for SRH, as they relied on pace and bounce rather than the variations typically employed by more seasoned bowlers like Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat.

Pathan also shared insights into Sakib's inspiring journey, revealing that his mother sold her jewelry to buy him his first pair of cricket shoes. "Sakib's story is truly inspiring. To witness him perform at such a high level after his family's sacrifices is incredibly special. Credit goes to the team management and Ishan Kishan for supporting these young talents in a high-pressure match. Their faith has paid off, and it looks promising for SRH moving forward," Pathan concluded.

This match marked only Praful's second appearance in T20 cricket. He debuted for Vidarbha in 2024 and was a consistent performer in the last Ranji Trophy, taking 16 wickets at an average of 26.37 over 11 innings, according to ESPNCricinfo. His previous T20 outing was during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in December 2025, where he recorded figures of 1/23 against Andhra Pradesh. His performance in the Vidarbha Pro T20 League last year, where he claimed eight wickets in six matches, was instrumental in securing his IPL contract.

Praful idolizes Cummins, SRH's regular captain, who has yet to join the squad, and Umesh Yadav, a senior pacer for India, who was present during his T20 debut.

While Hinge has taken 27 wickets in 10 first-class matches and five wickets in six List-A games, Sakib has played fewer than 20 professional matches, with 14 wickets in 13 T20s at an average exceeding 26 and 16 wickets in six first-class matches at an average above 30.

Batting first, SRH scored 216/6, largely thanks to Ishan's 91 runs off 44 balls, supported by Heinrich Klaasen (40 runs off 26 balls) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (28 runs off 13 balls). In their chase of 217 runs, RR's top order crumbled under pressure from debutant Praful, who took 4 wickets for 34 runs in four overs, leaving RR in dire straits at 9/5. Although Donovan Ferreira (69 runs off 44 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (45 runs off 32 balls) managed to put together a century partnership for net run rate purposes, RR ultimately fell short, being bowled out for 159.