IPL 2026: Pathan Hails SRH's Young Pacers Praful & Sakib for Complete Bowling Attack

SRH's bowling, which had come under scrutiny earlier in the season, found renewed sharpness as the two youngsters played a decisive role in a dominant performance against the in-form Rajasthan Royals on Monday to put an end to the inaugural champions' winning streak in the tournament.

Pathan pointed out how their contrasting skills brought much-needed balance to the attack.

"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," Pathan told JioStar.

Elaborating on their overall impact, Pathan highlighted how the duo added a new dimension to an attack previously reliant on experienced bowlers.

"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," he added.

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis also praised Hinge's immediate impact, particularly in the powerplay, where early wickets set the tone for the contest.

"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," Faf said.

Both Praful and Sakib picked up four-wicket hauls, with the former dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius for ducks and skipper Riyan Parag for a cheap 4(6). Sakib, meanwhile, accounted for the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Donovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer, and Ravi Bishnoi.

- IANS