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World Table Tennis Day celebrated with fanfare in Gujarat  India successfully hosted the global flagship celebration of World Table Tennis Day 2026 in Kapadwanj, Gujarat, marking a historic first for the country and commemorating 100 years of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).Centred around the theme “Health & Well-Being” and the slogan “Table Tennis Moves You,” the event showcased how table tennis can serve as a simple, accessible tool to promote physical activity, mental wellness, and social inclusion. The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. 
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Special Arrangement
                            

                            The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. 
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Special Arrangement
                                                    The celebration was held in the presence of ITTF President Petra Sörling; Vita Dani, Governing Board Member of ITTF Foundation; ITTF Foundation Director Leandro Olvech; Sharath Kamal, five-time Olympian and ITTF Foundation ambassador, commentator Adam Bobrow, and representatives from ESN Spinsight.ALSO READ | U Mumba TT retains title-winning coaching duo; Chakraborty set for Ultimate Table Tennis debut in Season 7Sörling said: ”India’s hosting of World Table Tennis Day 2026 is a proud moment for our global table tennis family. The message of this day is as simple as the sport itself: everyone is welcome at the table. Whether you play for fun, for fitness, for friendship, or with the ambition to reach the very top, this day is yours.”“As the ITTF marks its centenary, this is the vision we carry forward: a sport that welcomes everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. Today, in Kapadwanj, we see the real, positive impact table tennis can have in connecting communities. That is what our sport has offered the world for 100 years, and what it will continue to offer for the next hundred.”Kapadwanj’s selection as host city reflected more than three years of sustained grassroots work through the Smash Barriers programme, implemented locally by Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal in partnership with Dani Sports Foundation. The initiative has been using table tennis as a tool for inclusion, health, and community development, engaging children, youth, families, and persons with disabilities.World Table Tennis Day 2026 served as a culmination of this ongoing effort, offering a live, on-ground showcase of how sport can create lasting, community-led impact. The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Special Arrangement
                            

                            The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Special Arrangement
                                                    The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. The event was designed as an interactive and inclusive experience.The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.Key highlights included inclusive table tennis activities across age groups and abilities, exhibition matches, cultural performances rooted in the local context, and a special “100 Years of ITTF” showcase celebrating the sport’s global legacy.Reflecting on the occasion, Vita Dani said, “The health benefits of table tennis are truly unmatched, and it remains one of the most accessible sports in the world. To celebrate a sport so close to my heart, in a place that means so much to me, makes this moment incredibly special. What adds to the significance is marking 100 years of the federation, and for India to have the honour of hosting and celebrating this milestone makes it even more meaningful.”Published on Apr 23, 2026  #World #Table #Tennis #Day #celebrated #fanfare #Gujarat

World Table Tennis Day celebrated with fanfare in Gujarat

India successfully hosted the global flagship celebration of World Table Tennis Day 2026 in Kapadwanj, Gujarat, marking a historic first for the country and commemorating 100 years of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Centred around the theme “Health & Well-Being” and the slogan “Table Tennis Moves You,” the event showcased how table tennis can serve as a simple, accessible tool to promote physical activity, mental wellness, and social inclusion.

World Table Tennis Day celebrated with fanfare in Gujarat  India successfully hosted the global flagship celebration of World Table Tennis Day 2026 in Kapadwanj, Gujarat, marking a historic first for the country and commemorating 100 years of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).Centred around the theme “Health & Well-Being” and the slogan “Table Tennis Moves You,” the event showcased how table tennis can serve as a simple, accessible tool to promote physical activity, mental wellness, and social inclusion. The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. 
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Special Arrangement
                            

                            The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. 
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Special Arrangement
                                                    The celebration was held in the presence of ITTF President Petra Sörling; Vita Dani, Governing Board Member of ITTF Foundation; ITTF Foundation Director Leandro Olvech; Sharath Kamal, five-time Olympian and ITTF Foundation ambassador, commentator Adam Bobrow, and representatives from ESN Spinsight.ALSO READ | U Mumba TT retains title-winning coaching duo; Chakraborty set for Ultimate Table Tennis debut in Season 7Sörling said: ”India’s hosting of World Table Tennis Day 2026 is a proud moment for our global table tennis family. The message of this day is as simple as the sport itself: everyone is welcome at the table. Whether you play for fun, for fitness, for friendship, or with the ambition to reach the very top, this day is yours.”“As the ITTF marks its centenary, this is the vision we carry forward: a sport that welcomes everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. Today, in Kapadwanj, we see the real, positive impact table tennis can have in connecting communities. That is what our sport has offered the world for 100 years, and what it will continue to offer for the next hundred.”Kapadwanj’s selection as host city reflected more than three years of sustained grassroots work through the Smash Barriers programme, implemented locally by Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal in partnership with Dani Sports Foundation. The initiative has been using table tennis as a tool for inclusion, health, and community development, engaging children, youth, families, and persons with disabilities.World Table Tennis Day 2026 served as a culmination of this ongoing effort, offering a live, on-ground showcase of how sport can create lasting, community-led impact. The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Special Arrangement
                            

                            The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Special Arrangement
                                                    The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. The event was designed as an interactive and inclusive experience.The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.Key highlights included inclusive table tennis activities across age groups and abilities, exhibition matches, cultural performances rooted in the local context, and a special “100 Years of ITTF” showcase celebrating the sport’s global legacy.Reflecting on the occasion, Vita Dani said, “The health benefits of table tennis are truly unmatched, and it remains one of the most accessible sports in the world. To celebrate a sport so close to my heart, in a place that means so much to me, makes this moment incredibly special. What adds to the significance is marking 100 years of the federation, and for India to have the honour of hosting and celebrating this milestone makes it even more meaningful.”Published on Apr 23, 2026  #World #Table #Tennis #Day #celebrated #fanfare #Gujarat

The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College.  | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

lightbox-info

The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College.  | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The celebration was held in the presence of ITTF President Petra Sörling; Vita Dani, Governing Board Member of ITTF Foundation; ITTF Foundation Director Leandro Olvech; Sharath Kamal, five-time Olympian and ITTF Foundation ambassador, commentator Adam Bobrow, and representatives from ESN Spinsight.

ALSO READ | U Mumba TT retains title-winning coaching duo; Chakraborty set for Ultimate Table Tennis debut in Season 7

Sörling said: ”India’s hosting of World Table Tennis Day 2026 is a proud moment for our global table tennis family. The message of this day is as simple as the sport itself: everyone is welcome at the table. Whether you play for fun, for fitness, for friendship, or with the ambition to reach the very top, this day is yours.”

“As the ITTF marks its centenary, this is the vision we carry forward: a sport that welcomes everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. Today, in Kapadwanj, we see the real, positive impact table tennis can have in connecting communities. That is what our sport has offered the world for 100 years, and what it will continue to offer for the next hundred.”

Kapadwanj’s selection as host city reflected more than three years of sustained grassroots work through the Smash Barriers programme, implemented locally by Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal in partnership with Dani Sports Foundation. The initiative has been using table tennis as a tool for inclusion, health, and community development, engaging children, youth, families, and persons with disabilities.

World Table Tennis Day 2026 served as a culmination of this ongoing effort, offering a live, on-ground showcase of how sport can create lasting, community-led impact.

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

lightbox-info

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. The event was designed as an interactive and inclusive experience.

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.

Key highlights included inclusive table tennis activities across age groups and abilities, exhibition matches, cultural performances rooted in the local context, and a special “100 Years of ITTF” showcase celebrating the sport’s global legacy.

Reflecting on the occasion, Vita Dani said, “The health benefits of table tennis are truly unmatched, and it remains one of the most accessible sports in the world. To celebrate a sport so close to my heart, in a place that means so much to me, makes this moment incredibly special. What adds to the significance is marking 100 years of the federation, and for India to have the honour of hosting and celebrating this milestone makes it even more meaningful.”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#World #Table #Tennis #Day #celebrated #fanfare #Gujarat

India successfully hosted the global flagship celebration of World Table Tennis Day 2026 in Kapadwanj, Gujarat, marking a historic first for the country and commemorating 100 years of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Centred around the theme “Health & Well-Being” and the slogan “Table Tennis Moves You,” the event showcased how table tennis can serve as a simple, accessible tool to promote physical activity, mental wellness, and social inclusion.

The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

lightbox-info

The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The celebration was held in the presence of ITTF President Petra Sörling; Vita Dani, Governing Board Member of ITTF Foundation; ITTF Foundation Director Leandro Olvech; Sharath Kamal, five-time Olympian and ITTF Foundation ambassador, commentator Adam Bobrow, and representatives from ESN Spinsight.

ALSO READ | U Mumba TT retains title-winning coaching duo; Chakraborty set for Ultimate Table Tennis debut in Season 7

Sörling said: ”India’s hosting of World Table Tennis Day 2026 is a proud moment for our global table tennis family. The message of this day is as simple as the sport itself: everyone is welcome at the table. Whether you play for fun, for fitness, for friendship, or with the ambition to reach the very top, this day is yours.”

“As the ITTF marks its centenary, this is the vision we carry forward: a sport that welcomes everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. Today, in Kapadwanj, we see the real, positive impact table tennis can have in connecting communities. That is what our sport has offered the world for 100 years, and what it will continue to offer for the next hundred.”

Kapadwanj’s selection as host city reflected more than three years of sustained grassroots work through the Smash Barriers programme, implemented locally by Kapadwanj Kelavani Mandal in partnership with Dani Sports Foundation. The initiative has been using table tennis as a tool for inclusion, health, and community development, engaging children, youth, families, and persons with disabilities.

World Table Tennis Day 2026 served as a culmination of this ongoing effort, offering a live, on-ground showcase of how sport can create lasting, community-led impact.

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

lightbox-info

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The programme unfolded over two days, beginning with community visits and field immersions on April 22 across local institutions and neighbourhoods, followed by the main celebration on April 23 at Dani College. The event was designed as an interactive and inclusive experience.

The celebration brought together around 400 participants, including children, youth, families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, with approximately 200 people actively engaged at any given time.

Key highlights included inclusive table tennis activities across age groups and abilities, exhibition matches, cultural performances rooted in the local context, and a special “100 Years of ITTF” showcase celebrating the sport’s global legacy.

Reflecting on the occasion, Vita Dani said, “The health benefits of table tennis are truly unmatched, and it remains one of the most accessible sports in the world. To celebrate a sport so close to my heart, in a place that means so much to me, makes this moment incredibly special. What adds to the significance is marking 100 years of the federation, and for India to have the honour of hosting and celebrating this milestone makes it even more meaningful.”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

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Smart Glasses Are Eyeing the One Thing People Hate More Than Being Spied On<div> <p>If you don’t like the idea of someone <a href="https://gizmodo.com/ices-smart-glasses-are-a-worst-case-scenario-2000749003">recording you discreetly</a>, you probably don’t like <a href="https://gizmodo.com/we-need-to-talk-about-smart-glasses-2000661487">smart glasses</a>. Video and photo capture are easily some of the most divisive aspects of the form factor, if not <em>the </em>most divisive. However divisive the recording part is, though, there <em>are</em> unifying aspects of smart glasses with cameras—things that fans and critics can hate together. Take subscriptions, for example.</p> <p>As noted by <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/latitude-52-n-smart-glasses-from-ex-oneplus-engineers-have-a-hidden-cost/">Wired</a>, <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/latitude52n/latitude-52n-smart-ai-glasses-for-travel-and-adventure">L’Atitude 52°N</a>, a smart glasses company that successfully crowdfunded last year, just launched its Berlin model of AI specs, which is set to go on sale May 26, and they have one tiny little quirk that I haven’t seen yet, or at least not to this extent: the AI features on the smart glasses (a good deal of the stuff that might actually convince you to buy them) will all be paywalled after a year’s trial.</p> <figure id="attachment_2000749994" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2000749994" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-2000749994 size-full" src="https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/berlin-2.jpg" alt="Berlin smart glasses" width="1920" height="1280" srcset="https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/berlin-2.jpg 1920w, https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/berlin-2-336x224.jpg 336w, https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/berlin-2-1280x853.jpg 1280w, https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/berlin-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/berlin-2-672x448.jpg 672w, https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/berlin-2-960x640.jpg 960w, https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/04/berlin-2-1600x1067.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 1258px) calc((100vw - 3.68rem) * 2 / 3), 800px"/><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2000749994" class="wp-caption-text">© L’Atitude 52°N</figcaption></figure> <p>Per Wired, which spoke to L’Atitude 52°N CEO Gary Chen, there’s no word on how much the $399 smart glasses’ subscription will cost, but if you don’t pay up, Berlin will be limited to “base features,” which include playing music and capturing media. I guess anyone interested in buying Berlin will have to be okay with a looming, unknown cost down the road.</p> <p>It’s an interesting choice for a company that positions its smart glasses as being ideal for travel, pitching stuff like an “AI tour guide” that uses computer vision to provide information on your surroundings as a centerpiece of that travel functionality. Outside of a tour guide, the Berlin smart glasses also appear to lean into translation and a voice assistant in the AI department.</p> <p>On the bright side—call it transparency if you want—at least Chen is being honest about future ambitions to squeeze recurring profits out of anyone who buys the company’s smart glasses. A lot of the time, that’s just an unacknowledged minefield customers unknowingly step onto when buying any gadget with a cloud service.</p> <p>If you’re okay with potentially having to cough up a monthly sum to get the most out of your smart glasses, the Berlin look like a decent pair, but not quite the best. There’s no screen, but there’s a 12-megapixel camera, which is the same as the <a href="https://gizmodo.com/ray-ban-meta-gen-2-review-still-the-best-non-display-smart-glasses-2000664295">Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses</a>, though there’s a significant difference in capture resolution. The Berlin have a max recording resolution of 1080p, while the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses can record in 3K. They do look stylish, or at the very least unique, and if they can compete on open-ear audio, they might be a worthy consideration even with that very annoying subscription caveat.</p> <p>I’m skeptical that smart glasses are practical enough to justify paying for monthly, but I guess the only way to find out is by adding to everyone’s already Sisyphean monthly subscription budget.</p> </div>#Smart #Glasses #Eyeing #People #Hate #Spiedsmart glasses,wearables

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Indore: विधायक उषा ठाकुर ने प्रीतम लोधी मामले में कहा- चाहे कोई भी व्यक्ति हो, पार्टी कठोर कार्रवाई करेगी

Every pacer dreams of scooping up a wicket in the first over they bowl. Few actually get to do it. Fewer still get to do it thrice, and that too on the biggest stage in the format – the Indian Premier League. Vidarbha quick Praful Hinge had a debut to savour with Sunrisers Hyderabad recently, removing the Rajasthan Royals top order in his opening over.

“I played a Under-23 game against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Praful said during a Jiostar Press Room interaction on Thursday. “I got him out on the same bouncer. I thought that if I bowl the same ball, he would hit it, because he was hitting everyone on the first ball.”

The 15-year-old, we now know, took the bait.

Praful has an envious battalion of big hitters to train with in the nets, so Sooryavanshi was not entirely out of syllabus.

“Their style of playing is like that. They hit every ball. Their approach in the nets is like that (too). When we bowl to them, we think of it as a match.”

Funnily, the 24-year-old relies on a tried and tested red-ball approach to succeed in the fast-paced life in T20s.

ALSO READ | From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise

“With the new ball, we should test the batters as much as possible. We play red ball cricket with patience. We should follow that. And we did that with success.”

Praful’s ambitions were born from the hard work of his father, Prakash, who was employed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board in Nagpur. He also credits his elder sister as his inspiration.

“My father used to leave the house at 8am, and my sister would study well into the night. I would wake up at 4am, and she was still up. I, too, wanted to achieve something and make my family feel good. They are huge sources of motivation for me.

“I trained as a 13-year-old with my father. He would get tired, but I’d still want to keep going. I was stubborn. At that time, all I knew was I wanted to play for India. I didn’t know what domestic or club cricket was.”

He eventually climbed the ladder of age-group cricket, played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and got SRH’s attention. That helped him link up with his idol Pat Cummins, who is currently making his way back to the XI after a long injury layoff. Praful was admiringly starstruck, he remembered.

“When I met him for the first time, I told him I am his biggest fan and that I’ve been watching all his bowling videos and following everything he does. He was warm and said he’d be there to help me out.”

Cummins had a simple funda for Praful.

“During training sessions, he would say, ‘Do whatever you’re doing with your heart. Everyone knows T20 is a batter’s game. Enjoy the game, smile and win.’”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#Cummins #funda #family #support #redball #lessons #Praful #Hinges #rise #SRHs #pace #ace">Cummins’ funda, family support, red-ball lessons: Into Praful Hinge’s rise as SRH’s pace ace  Every pacer dreams of scooping up a wicket in the first over they bowl. Few actually get to do it. Fewer still get to do it thrice, and that too on the biggest stage in the format – the Indian Premier League. Vidarbha quick Praful Hinge had a debut to savour with Sunrisers Hyderabad recently, removing the Rajasthan Royals top order in his opening over.“I played a Under-23 game against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Praful said during a        Jiostar Press Room interaction on Thursday. “I got him out on the same bouncer. I thought that if I bowl the same ball, he would hit it, because he was hitting everyone on the first ball.”The 15-year-old, we now know, took the bait.Praful has an envious battalion of big hitters to train with in the nets, so Sooryavanshi was not entirely out of syllabus.“Their style of playing is like that. They hit every ball. Their approach in the nets is like that (too). When we bowl to them, we think of it as a match.”Funnily, the 24-year-old relies on a tried and tested red-ball approach to succeed in the fast-paced life in T20s.ALSO READ | From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise“With the new ball, we should test the batters as much as possible. We play red ball cricket with patience. We should follow that. And we did that with success.”Praful’s ambitions were born from the hard work of his father, Prakash, who was employed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board in Nagpur. He also credits his elder sister as his inspiration.“My father used to leave the house at 8am, and my sister would study well into the night. I would wake up at 4am, and she was still up. I, too, wanted to achieve something and make my family feel good. They are huge sources of motivation for me.“I trained as a 13-year-old with my father. He would get tired, but I’d still want to keep going. I was stubborn. At that time, all I knew was I wanted to play for India. I didn’t know what domestic or club cricket was.”He eventually climbed the ladder of age-group cricket, played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and got SRH’s attention. That helped him link up with his idol Pat Cummins, who is currently making his way back to the XI after a long injury layoff. Praful was admiringly starstruck, he remembered.“When I met him for the first time, I told him I am his biggest fan and that I’ve been watching all his bowling videos and following everything he does. He was warm and said he’d be there to help me out.”Cummins had a simple        funda for Praful.“During training sessions, he would say, ‘Do whatever you’re doing with your heart. Everyone knows T20 is a batter’s game. Enjoy the game, smile and win.’”Published on Apr 23, 2026  #Cummins #funda #family #support #redball #lessons #Praful #Hinges #rise #SRHs #pace #ace

From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise

“With the new ball, we should test the batters as much as possible. We play red ball cricket with patience. We should follow that. And we did that with success.”

Praful’s ambitions were born from the hard work of his father, Prakash, who was employed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board in Nagpur. He also credits his elder sister as his inspiration.

“My father used to leave the house at 8am, and my sister would study well into the night. I would wake up at 4am, and she was still up. I, too, wanted to achieve something and make my family feel good. They are huge sources of motivation for me.

“I trained as a 13-year-old with my father. He would get tired, but I’d still want to keep going. I was stubborn. At that time, all I knew was I wanted to play for India. I didn’t know what domestic or club cricket was.”

He eventually climbed the ladder of age-group cricket, played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and got SRH’s attention. That helped him link up with his idol Pat Cummins, who is currently making his way back to the XI after a long injury layoff. Praful was admiringly starstruck, he remembered.

“When I met him for the first time, I told him I am his biggest fan and that I’ve been watching all his bowling videos and following everything he does. He was warm and said he’d be there to help me out.”

Cummins had a simple funda for Praful.

“During training sessions, he would say, ‘Do whatever you’re doing with your heart. Everyone knows T20 is a batter’s game. Enjoy the game, smile and win.’”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#Cummins #funda #family #support #redball #lessons #Praful #Hinges #rise #SRHs #pace #ace">Cummins’ funda, family support, red-ball lessons: Into Praful Hinge’s rise as SRH’s pace ace

Every pacer dreams of scooping up a wicket in the first over they bowl. Few actually get to do it. Fewer still get to do it thrice, and that too on the biggest stage in the format – the Indian Premier League. Vidarbha quick Praful Hinge had a debut to savour with Sunrisers Hyderabad recently, removing the Rajasthan Royals top order in his opening over.

“I played a Under-23 game against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Praful said during a Jiostar Press Room interaction on Thursday. “I got him out on the same bouncer. I thought that if I bowl the same ball, he would hit it, because he was hitting everyone on the first ball.”

The 15-year-old, we now know, took the bait.

Praful has an envious battalion of big hitters to train with in the nets, so Sooryavanshi was not entirely out of syllabus.

“Their style of playing is like that. They hit every ball. Their approach in the nets is like that (too). When we bowl to them, we think of it as a match.”

Funnily, the 24-year-old relies on a tried and tested red-ball approach to succeed in the fast-paced life in T20s.

ALSO READ | From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise

“With the new ball, we should test the batters as much as possible. We play red ball cricket with patience. We should follow that. And we did that with success.”

Praful’s ambitions were born from the hard work of his father, Prakash, who was employed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board in Nagpur. He also credits his elder sister as his inspiration.

“My father used to leave the house at 8am, and my sister would study well into the night. I would wake up at 4am, and she was still up. I, too, wanted to achieve something and make my family feel good. They are huge sources of motivation for me.

“I trained as a 13-year-old with my father. He would get tired, but I’d still want to keep going. I was stubborn. At that time, all I knew was I wanted to play for India. I didn’t know what domestic or club cricket was.”

He eventually climbed the ladder of age-group cricket, played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and got SRH’s attention. That helped him link up with his idol Pat Cummins, who is currently making his way back to the XI after a long injury layoff. Praful was admiringly starstruck, he remembered.

“When I met him for the first time, I told him I am his biggest fan and that I’ve been watching all his bowling videos and following everything he does. He was warm and said he’d be there to help me out.”

Cummins had a simple funda for Praful.

“During training sessions, he would say, ‘Do whatever you’re doing with your heart. Everyone knows T20 is a batter’s game. Enjoy the game, smile and win.’”

Published on Apr 23, 2026

#Cummins #funda #family #support #redball #lessons #Praful #Hinges #rise #SRHs #pace #ace
Deadspin | As Pirates visit Rangers, it’s rookie vs. Cy Young winner on mound  Apr 6, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images   Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly wants rookie starting pitcher Bubba Chandler to be authentic when he takes the mound against the Texas Rangers on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.   “I want Bubba to be Bubba and sometimes that means him showing emotion,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a fine line for him to learn what that is and how he can control that as he goes through a start.”  After the Pirates rallied for an 8-4 win on Wednesday, highlighted by Oneil Cruz’s prodigious three-run home run off the top of the right field foul pole in the ninth inning, they’ll turn to Chandler in the rubber game of the three-game series.   In his most recent start, Chandler (1-1, 3.15 ERA) earned the 5-1 win against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays last Friday as he gave up one run on three hits and struck out three in six innings.  Opponents are hitting .183 off Chandler in four starts this season. It will mark Chandler’s first career appearance against the Rangers.   As the rookie right-hander works his way through his first full major-league season, Kelly said Chandler will learn how to make in-game adjustments. In Kelly’s nine-year career as a utility man, he made note of the things former teammate Justin Verlander did to get back on track during a game.   “I look at pitchers in general,” Kelly said. “I played behind Verlander. When he would lose his fastball command, it was the curveball he would go to and re-establish his release point. That helped him get his fastball back in the zone.   “I think sometimes throughout a start, if you are feeling off, there may be something you can do. Sometimes that’s with a pitch, sometimes that’s with a slide step to speed yourself up to get back in the zone and find a way to re-establish that release point. Bubba is an extreme athlete and is very competitive.”   Texas is scheduled to start right-hander Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.29 ERA). In nine career starts against the Pirates, the two-time Cy Young Award winner is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 69 strikeouts.  In his most recent start, deGrom didn’t factor into the decision but pitched four scoreless innings. He racked up 88 pitches, gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three in the Rangers’ 5-0 road win over the Seattle Mariners last Friday.   Josh Jung launched his third home run of the season on Wednesday. The third baseman has three hits, two runs and three RBIs in the series. Jung leads the Rangers in batting average (.303), doubles (eight), slugging percentage (.526) and OPS (.883).    Consistency is what Jung said has allowed him to get into a groove on offense.   “Coming in we create an approach and a plan and stick to it no matter what,” Jung said. “I think that’s what’s helping me right now. Everyday we come in and put a game plan together and execute no matter what.”  The Rangers will be without Wyatt Langford, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a Grade 1 flexor strain. In 20 games this season, Langford has a .238 batting average, three doubles, two triples, one home run and four RBIs.   –Field Level Media  -Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Pirates #visit #Rangers #rookie #Young #winner #moundApr 6, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly wants rookie starting pitcher Bubba Chandler to be authentic when he takes the mound against the Texas Rangers on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.

“I want Bubba to be Bubba and sometimes that means him showing emotion,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a fine line for him to learn what that is and how he can control that as he goes through a start.”

After the Pirates rallied for an 8-4 win on Wednesday, highlighted by Oneil Cruz’s prodigious three-run home run off the top of the right field foul pole in the ninth inning, they’ll turn to Chandler in the rubber game of the three-game series.

In his most recent start, Chandler (1-1, 3.15 ERA) earned the 5-1 win against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays last Friday as he gave up one run on three hits and struck out three in six innings.

Opponents are hitting .183 off Chandler in four starts this season. It will mark Chandler’s first career appearance against the Rangers.

As the rookie right-hander works his way through his first full major-league season, Kelly said Chandler will learn how to make in-game adjustments. In Kelly’s nine-year career as a utility man, he made note of the things former teammate Justin Verlander did to get back on track during a game.

“I look at pitchers in general,” Kelly said. “I played behind Verlander. When he would lose his fastball command, it was the curveball he would go to and re-establish his release point. That helped him get his fastball back in the zone.


“I think sometimes throughout a start, if you are feeling off, there may be something you can do. Sometimes that’s with a pitch, sometimes that’s with a slide step to speed yourself up to get back in the zone and find a way to re-establish that release point. Bubba is an extreme athlete and is very competitive.”

Texas is scheduled to start right-hander Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.29 ERA). In nine career starts against the Pirates, the two-time Cy Young Award winner is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 69 strikeouts.

In his most recent start, deGrom didn’t factor into the decision but pitched four scoreless innings. He racked up 88 pitches, gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three in the Rangers’ 5-0 road win over the Seattle Mariners last Friday.

Josh Jung launched his third home run of the season on Wednesday. The third baseman has three hits, two runs and three RBIs in the series. Jung leads the Rangers in batting average (.303), doubles (eight), slugging percentage (.526) and OPS (.883).

Consistency is what Jung said has allowed him to get into a groove on offense.

“Coming in we create an approach and a plan and stick to it no matter what,” Jung said. “I think that’s what’s helping me right now. Everyday we come in and put a game plan together and execute no matter what.”

The Rangers will be without Wyatt Langford, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a Grade 1 flexor strain. In 20 games this season, Langford has a .238 batting average, three doubles, two triples, one home run and four RBIs.

–Field Level Media


-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Pirates #visit #Rangers #rookie #Young #winner #mound">Deadspin | As Pirates visit Rangers, it’s rookie vs. Cy Young winner on mound  Apr 6, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler (36) delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images   Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly wants rookie starting pitcher Bubba Chandler to be authentic when he takes the mound against the Texas Rangers on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.   “I want Bubba to be Bubba and sometimes that means him showing emotion,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a fine line for him to learn what that is and how he can control that as he goes through a start.”  After the Pirates rallied for an 8-4 win on Wednesday, highlighted by Oneil Cruz’s prodigious three-run home run off the top of the right field foul pole in the ninth inning, they’ll turn to Chandler in the rubber game of the three-game series.   In his most recent start, Chandler (1-1, 3.15 ERA) earned the 5-1 win against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays last Friday as he gave up one run on three hits and struck out three in six innings.  Opponents are hitting .183 off Chandler in four starts this season. It will mark Chandler’s first career appearance against the Rangers.   As the rookie right-hander works his way through his first full major-league season, Kelly said Chandler will learn how to make in-game adjustments. In Kelly’s nine-year career as a utility man, he made note of the things former teammate Justin Verlander did to get back on track during a game.   “I look at pitchers in general,” Kelly said. “I played behind Verlander. When he would lose his fastball command, it was the curveball he would go to and re-establish his release point. That helped him get his fastball back in the zone.   “I think sometimes throughout a start, if you are feeling off, there may be something you can do. Sometimes that’s with a pitch, sometimes that’s with a slide step to speed yourself up to get back in the zone and find a way to re-establish that release point. Bubba is an extreme athlete and is very competitive.”   Texas is scheduled to start right-hander Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.29 ERA). In nine career starts against the Pirates, the two-time Cy Young Award winner is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA and 69 strikeouts.  In his most recent start, deGrom didn’t factor into the decision but pitched four scoreless innings. He racked up 88 pitches, gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three in the Rangers’ 5-0 road win over the Seattle Mariners last Friday.   Josh Jung launched his third home run of the season on Wednesday. The third baseman has three hits, two runs and three RBIs in the series. Jung leads the Rangers in batting average (.303), doubles (eight), slugging percentage (.526) and OPS (.883).    Consistency is what Jung said has allowed him to get into a groove on offense.   “Coming in we create an approach and a plan and stick to it no matter what,” Jung said. “I think that’s what’s helping me right now. Everyday we come in and put a game plan together and execute no matter what.”  The Rangers will be without Wyatt Langford, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a Grade 1 flexor strain. In 20 games this season, Langford has a .238 batting average, three doubles, two triples, one home run and four RBIs.   –Field Level Media  -Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Pirates #visit #Rangers #rookie #Young #winner #mound

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