“How Shameless…” Praful Hinge’s Celebration On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Wicket S – IPL 2026: Praful Hinge Celebration Sparks Outrage After Dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The Controversy in New Chandigarh
The IPL 2026 Eliminator clash between the Rajasthan Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad produced one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament. At the heart of the drama was the 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose meteoric rise in the league has made him a household name. However, it was the conduct of SRH pacer Praful Hinge that stole the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
As Sooryavanshi looked poised to shatter Chris Gayle’s legendary record for the fastest IPL century, Hinge intervened, dismissing the southpaw and celebrating with an intensity that many fans deemed unnecessary and disrespectful toward the young talent.
The Quest for the Record
At the end of the 8th over, the atmosphere in New Chandigarh was electric. Sooryavanshi was in the middle of a masterful display, needing just 3 runs from two balls to break Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century record. The momentum was entirely with the Rajasthan Royals, and the crowd was braced for history.
Against the run of play, Praful Hinge delivered a short ball that forced an awkward shot from the batter. The ball ballooned into the air, safely into the hands of R Smaran. As the catch was completed, Hinge’s reaction—an animated, laughing celebration directed toward the 15-year-old—ignited a firestorm on social media. Fans were quick to label the behavior as ‘shameless,’ noting that such a reaction toward a teenager on the verge of a historic milestone was in poor taste.
A Developing Rivalry
The history between Hinge and Sooryavanshi has become one of the most compelling sub-plots of IPL 2026. This Eliminator clash marked their third meeting, and each encounter has been fraught with tension.
- First Meeting: Hinge successfully dismissed Sooryavanshi for a duck during their initial encounter in Hyderabad.
- Second Meeting: Sooryavanshi responded in dominant fashion, smashing 30 runs off just 9 balls against the pacer, including four sixes, on his way to a brilliant 103 off 37 deliveries.
- Third Meeting (Eliminator): Hinge claimed the wicket after being taken to the cleaners again, with the youngster scoring 27 runs in that specific over alone.
The head-to-head record now stands at 57 runs scored off 17 deliveries with two dismissals, highlighting a fierce battle between the experienced pacer and the fearless debutant.
The Impact on the Match
Despite the dismissal, the damage to the Sunrisers Hyderabad had already been done. By the time Sooryavanshi’s whirlwind innings concluded at the end of the 8th over, the Rajasthan Royals had posted an imposing 125/1, with the teenager contributing a massive 97 of those runs. The momentum carried forward, as Dhruv Jurel provided a vital supporting hand with a 21-ball 50, featuring five fours and three sixes.
Even though the Sunrisers eventually claimed key wickets, including captain Riyan Parag, the RR total reached a formidable 215/4 at the end of 16 overs. Praful Hinge finished his spell with figures of 3/54, but for many spectators, his performance was overshadowed by the nature of his celebrations rather than his bowling figures.
Fan Sentiment and Sportsmanship
This incident is not the first time Sooryavanshi has been on the receiving end of aggressive celebrations. Earlier in the season, Kyle Jamieson also drew criticism for a confrontation following a clean-bowled dismissal. However, the timing of Hinge’s celebration—occurring immediately after the youngster had scored 27 runs in just six balls—led fans to argue that it lacked the respect typically afforded to a player performing at such an elite level at such a tender age.
As the Rajasthan Royals push forward in their IPL 2026 campaign, the spotlight remains firmly on the maturity of their young star, while the discussions regarding sportsmanship and the behavior of senior players continue to dominate the discourse among cricket enthusiasts globally.
