IPL 2026: Why was Praful Hinge dropped from PBKS vs SRH clash despite being in impact subs?

It was a disappointing day for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowler Praful Hinge. He was supposed to play the match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as announced by Ishan Kishan  during the toss. He came in for Jaydev Unadkat as mentioned by the skipper. However, as the match progressed and SRH scored 219 runs in the first innings, the strategy changed. 

The 24-year-old bowler didn't feature in the game, and instead, Unadkat was brought as an impact player for Travis Head. Well, Hinge's name was also enlisted in the impact player list, but he was supposed to play in place of Unadkat. But what made the last moment changes? Let's find out in the article. 

Why did Praful Hinge not play against PBKS?

Praful Hinge was all set to make his debut today against PBKS in the IPL 2026. But the change of plans at the last moment happened due to the pitch conditions and the management's strategy to tackle the opponents. PBKS have some of the best batters in the tournament and have managed to score runs in every game. Moreover, this is an important match for SRH since they have won just one game. 

Keeping everything in mind, the visitors needed a bowler who is experienced, has various line and length to tackle the batters, and hence, Unadkat is a better option than Hinge. The 24-year-old bowler has not had full exposure to high-pressure situations as of now. The surface is gripping, and the ball is on the slower side, which is a perfect pitch for a bowler like Unadkat. Hence, the last moment changes happened. 

Brief Scores (at the time of writing)- PBKS 118/2 (Priyansh Arya 57, Shivang Kumar 2/17) vs SRH

Fans react to Praful Hinge's miss out

The SRH fans were unhappy with the management's decision to drop Praful Hinge despite taking his name at the toss. They took to social media to call out Kishan and the management for their unprofessional behaviour.