IPL 2026: Varun Aaron praises SRH youngsters Sakib and Praful after playoff-clinching win
New Delhi, May 19
Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling coach Varun Aaron praised young bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Husain after team's secured their spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs with a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk.
In a discussion on JioHotstar SRH bowling coach Aaron attributed the duo's growth this season to their eagerness and hard work.
"A lot of credit goes to Praful Hinge and Sakib Husain because both of them are very eager to learn and aim to play for India," Aaron said.
"When young players have that kind of ambition, dedication and hard work follow naturally. Both of them put in a lot of effort, not just during the tournament but also in the lead-up to the IPL. Our preparations with them started almost two months before the season. We organized specialized camps and worked closely on different aspects of their bowling."
"The most impressive thing was how open they were to learning, and now they are starting to see the results of all that hard work."
The pair justified that trust with key performances during CSK's innings. Sakib dismissed the dangerous Urvil Patel, while both young bowlers took two wickets each to help limit Chennai to 180/7.
Ishan Kishan then led SRH's chase with a steady 70 off 47 balls, while Klaasen's 47 shifted the momentum significantly in the middle overs.
Aaron also noted Klaasen's growing role in the team. "One area where we struggled last season was finishing games when the top order didn't fully deliver. This year, Heinrich Klaasen has taken on that responsibility very well," Aaron said.
"What makes him special is how easily he can change his approach, going from rotating the strike at a run-a-ball to suddenly scoring eight or nine runs an over. That transition is tough, but Klaasen makes it seem effortless."
"The innings he played in this match showed his quality, especially some of the shots against spin, where he created space and hit boundaries off the back foot with impressive ease."
With the win, SRH became the third team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs, joining Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, our bowling unit has some depth! For years we relied only on Bhuvi and Rashid, but now with young guns like Sakib and Praful, the future looks bright. Aaron mentioned they are aiming to play for India—that's exactly the kind of hunger we need. Hope they get a chance in the playoffs. 🙌
Impressive to see SRH developing homegrown talent rather than just buying expensive overseas players. Sakib's dismissal of Urvil Patel was crucial in that match. But I have to say, Klaasen is playing some of the best T20 cricket I've seen this season—that ability to switch gears is gold. Let's see if they can go all the way! 💪
As someone who follows IPL from the US, it's great to see young Indian bowlers getting such specific coaching. Aaron's emphasis on preparation two months before the season is what sets franchises like SRH apart. Klaasen's innings was pure class—that back-foot play against spin is not easy. Looking forward to the playoffs!
Varun Aaron's transition from player to coach has been impressive. He understands the pressures young fast bowlers face. Sakib and Praful still have areas to improve—especially death bowling and line consistency—but the willingness to learn is half the battle won. Klaasen has been our MVP this season, no doubt. 🏏
Happy to see SRH back in playoffs after a few average seasons. The combination of young talent and experienced pros like Aaron in the coaching setup is paying off. Klaasen's role as a finisher has been brilliant—he can single-handedly win games from tough positions. Hope the youngsters get chances in the playoffs too! 👏