Vidarbha's Praful Hinge recently delivered one of the most remarkable bowling debuts in IPL history during the 2026 season for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Making his debut against the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Hinge became the first-ever bowler to take 3 wickets in the opening over of his debut match. He eventually finished his impact spell with 4 wickets for 13 runs in 2.3 overs, dismissing top-order batters like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Lhuan Dre Pretorius.
Top 5 IPL dream debuts
1. Praful Hinge (SRH vs RR, 2026)
Performance: 4/13 (3.0 overs)
Why it’s Top 5: On April 13, 2026, Vidarbha pacer Praful Hinge became the first player in IPL history to take 3 wickets in the opening over of his debut match. He dismissed Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in a single over at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
2. Alzarri Joseph (MI vs SRH, 2019)
Performance: 6/12 (3.4 overs)
Why it’s Top 5: Joseph holds the all-time record for the best bowling figures in IPL history. Making his debut as a replacement for Lasith Malinga, he dismantled the SRH batting lineup to surpass a record that had stood for 11 years.
3. Brendon McCullum (KKR vs RCB, 2008)
Performance: 158* (73 balls)
Why it’s Top 5: In the very first match of the IPL, McCullum set the standard with the highest score on debut. His innings included 13 sixers and remains the only time a player has scored more than 150 runs in their first IPL game.
4. Michael Hussey (CSK vs PBKS, 2008)
Performance: 116* (54 balls)
Why it’s Top 5: Hussey is one of only two players (with McCullum) to score a century on an IPL debut. His knock came just one day after the league's inaugural match, proving that high-scoring consistency was possible in the new format.
5. Andrew Tye (GL vs RPS, 2017)
Performance: 5/17 (4.0 overs)
Why it’s Top 5: Tye is the only player to take a five-wicket haul including a hat-trick on his IPL debut. His variations, particularly the knuckleball, famously outfoxed the Rising Pune Supergiant batters.
