After enduring the frustration of four consecutive losses, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Abhishek Sharma was determined to turn things around — and he did so in spectacular fashion. On Saturday, the young batter produced career-defining innings, smashing a scintillating 141 runs off just 55 deliveries, as SRH pulled off the second-highest successful run chase in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), defeating Punjab Kings by eight wickets in a high-scoring showdown.
Reflecting on his match-winning performance, Abhishek admitted the burden of the team’s losing streak had been heavy on his mind.
“This inning is special for me. I badly wanted to break that streak of defeats. Losing four games in a row was very tough to digest, but the team never let it affect our dressing room environment,” he said after the match.
Abhishek also credited the support and encouragement he received from senior cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Suryakumar Yadav, both of whom had reached out during his rough patch. “Special mention to Yuvi paji and Suryakumar. They kept in touch, kept me motivated,” he added.
The match held personal significance for Abhishek, too, as his parents were present in the stadium, watching from the stands. “I’ve been waiting for this day. The entire team believes my parents bring luck to SRH. I wanted to make it count, and I’m glad it worked out.”
Abhishek revealed that the nature of the pitch gave him the freedom to experiment with unorthodox shots — a strategy that paid off handsomely.
“I usually don’t play much behind the wicket, but the surface was so good that I felt like I could try some new shots. The wicket allowed that freedom, and it helped both me and Travis Head. We didn’t overthink — we just played naturally, and the partnership gave me confidence,” he explained.
Sunrisers captain Pat Cummins echoed the praise for Abhishek, calling himself a “huge fan” of the young batter’s evolving game.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Abhi. We spoke about it before the game — the belief in our group never wavered, even through the defeats. The approach has been to stick to what we know, trust the process, and not tear things apart just because of a few bad results. Abhi showed today why that belief matters,” Cummins said.
The Australian pacer also pointed out that the wicket at the venue didn’t offer much assistance to the bowlers, leaving few tactical options to restrict runs. “It was a good pitch. Slower balls weren’t gripping, the ball was just flying off the bat. You just try your best on a surface like this.”
For Punjab Kings, the night was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after posting a formidable 245/6 — a total that would usually all but guarantee victory. However, their bowlers couldn’t contain the onslaught from SRH’s openers, and the fielders let crucial chances slip by.
Speaking after the match, PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer admitted his side was left stunned by the ease with which Hyderabad chased down the mammoth target.
“It was a fantastic total. To see them chase it with two overs remaining — it almost makes you laugh in disbelief. We dropped a couple of catches that could have been game-changing. Abhishek played an outstanding knock, but yes, he had some luck on his side, too. In the end, catches win matches, and we let ourselves down there,” Iyer reflected.
Despite the disappointment, Iyer acknowledged the need for calm analysis rather than panic. “We need to go back to the drawing board and figure out where we can tighten things up, especially with the ball. But credit to Abhishek and the SRH openers for the way they batted.”
Saturday’s match will go down as one of the IPL’s most memorable chases — a night where a young batter not only delivered when it mattered most but also lifted his team out of a losing slump in emphatic style