Sunrisers Hyderabad registered a dominant 57-run win over Rajasthan Royals in the TATA IPL 2026. Irfan Pathan and Faf du Plessis analysed the impact of ‘Fearless Prodigies’ Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain, and previewed today’s ‘Rivalry Week’ match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Irfan Pathan highlighted how ‘Fearless Prodigies’ Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain brought the right balance of pace and variation to SRH’s bowling:
“The biggest positive was that they offered both pace and variation, which is exactly what Sunrisers Hyderabad need. They started with high pace, bounce, and a bit of swing upfront, and as the ball got older, their variations came into play. Sakib, in particular, was outstanding. His wrist position allows him to generate sharp turn and deceptive slower deliveries, even on a dry surface. Praful Hinge will be effective with the new ball and yorkers, while Sakib can control the middle overs with his variations. That combination makes their bowling attack far more complete.”
On Praful’s and Sakib’s impact:
“This was a big boost for Sunrisers Hyderabad because their bowling needed that extra firepower. While experienced bowlers like Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel were relying on variations, Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain brought in high pace and bounce, which made a real difference. Sakib’s journey is remarkable. His mother sold her jewellery to buy his first cricket shoes, and to see him deliver a performance like this on such a big stage will be incredibly special for his family. Credit also goes to the team management and Ishan Kishan for backing these young players in a high-pressure game. That trust paid off, and it looks like an exciting phase ahead for SRH.”
Faf du Plessis lavished praise on ‘Fearless Prodigy’ Praful Hinge’s impact in the Powerplay:
“It was incredible to see a young player come in with that kind of intent. Sunrisers Hyderabad made a change to their attack to pick up early wickets, and he delivered exactly that. He bowled with good pace and aggression, and the element of surprise worked in his favour. The batters weren’t quite sure what to expect, and he used that beautifully.”
On today’s ‘Rivalry Week’ match between CSK and KKR:
“Those runs from Sanju Samson in the previous game were very important because they gave the team a strong start and helped settle the batting unit. CSK have a solid line-up, but it’s about setting up the innings properly, which they did well in the previous game. On the bowling side, CSK looked more organised with clearer plans, and bringing in an extra spinner like Akeal Hosein could be key, especially against KKR that struggle against spin in the middle overs. Overall, they’ll take confidence from the previous performance, but both teams are in a similar position. Their batting is going well, but bowling will need smarter execution.”
