Sunrisers' Abhishek hits fifth-highest IPL score
Abhishek was part of India's T20 World Cup-winning squad earlier this year
- Published
India opener Abhishek Sharma hit the fifth-highest score in Indian Premier League history in Sunrisers Hyderabad's 47-run win against Delhi Capitals.
The 25-year-old left-hander, who is number one in the men's T20 batting rankings, batted throughout the innings for 135 not out from 68 balls in the hosts' 242-2.
He peppered the straight boundaries with powerful drives, hitting 10 sixes and 10 fours, and reached three figures in 47 deliveries.
His score has only been bettered in the IPL by West Indies great Chris Gayle (175 not out), Brendon McCullum (158 not out), Abhishek's 141 on the same ground last year and Quinton de Kock's 140 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022.
It was also Abhishek's ninth T20 century, taking him joint fourth on the all-time list.
Delhi made 195-9 in reply with seamer Eshan Malinga taking 4-32.
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Abhishek has been a dominant force in T20s in recent years, with two T20 international centuries to go with his two in the IPL.
He began the recent T20 World Cup with three consecutive ducks but hit 52 as India beat New Zealand in the final.
He has built a fearsome partnership with Australian Travis Head at Sunrisers, particularly since 2024 when New Zealander Daniel Vettori and Australian Pat Cummins, who is currently injured, took over as coach and captain.
"I always wanted to show my talent in the powerplay but you have to have the backing from the captain and the coach," Abhishek said.
"The environment we had in '24 was the game-changer for us. I always wanted to play like this, in my Punjab team as well."
Abhishek scored 62 of his runs with drives, including eight of his boundaries
Three of Abhishek's four T20 hundreds have come at Sunrisers' home ground in Hyderabad, where two of the four highest IPL totals have also been made.
Against Delhi he put on 97 in 8.5 overs with Head, 79 in 35 with Ishan Kishan and 66 not out in 32 with South African Heinrich Klaasen.
Klaasen hit three sixes in 37 not out from 13 balls. Head made 37 and Kishan 25.
"When we went to the wicket it was a bit slow," Abhishek said.
"We had the match-ups in our mind and wanted to ultilise the powerplay as I always do.
"It is always a special moment scoring on this special ground."
The win, Sunrisers' third in a row, lifts them to third in the table, three points behind leaders Punjab Kings.
