Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) dangerous top-order was a big reason for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) but two debutants – Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain – stole the show with four-fers, guiding their side to a 59-run win. While Hinge stunned everyone with a three-wicket first over, Hussain chipped away at regular intervals. He ended up with better bowling figures than Hinge eventually. However, his slower one to dismiss a well-set Donovan Ferreira impressed Mumbai Indians’ (MI) three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champion bowler Mitchell McClenaghan. The former New Zealand pacer compared it to Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s well disguised slower ones.
“This fearless prodigy Sakib Hussain looks very talented. At the start of the chase, he got the big wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal with the new ball. That wicket put the brakes on Rajasthan’s top order and their chances of chasing 217. Later, he showed his ability to bowl the slower ball and his ability to nail them took everyone by surprise. His slower delivery gave Mustafizur Rahman vibes and he feels like a right-handed version of Mustafizur,” McClenaghan said on Star Sports.
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No game for KKR, gets big guns on SRH debut
Hussain was earlier picked by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for IPL 2024 but didn't get a game. After missing a season, he was roped in by SRH for Rs 30 lakh.
On his debut, the Bihar-born pacer made Yashasvi Jaiswal his maiden IPL wicket. He outfoxed Ferreira who was batting on 69 and then struck twice in an over to send Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi packing. He conceded 24 runs from his quota of four overs.
‘Indian bowling in safe hands’
McClenaghan praised Hinge too for catching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi off-guard with a short delivery. He lauded the youngster’s control and declared that India’s pace bowling future is in safe hands.
“You also have to credit another fearless prodigy, Praful Hinge. He changed his line and length really well. The first ball to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, he bowled a sharp bumper that caught him off guard and led to his dismissal. Against Dhruv Jurel, he bowled a fourth-stump line and the inside edge hit the stumps, a peach of a delivery. He showed excellent control in his first over as a debutant. By bowling those lines so well, he proved he means business. These two fearless prodigies have shown that the future of Indian bowling is in safe hands,” said the 39-year-old.
The two prodigies helped SRH register their second win from five games and climb to the fourth position on the points table.