Abhishek Sharma’s Century Powers SRH to First Win After Four Losses
The emotions of Kavya Maran, owner of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, have become an unofficial barometer of her team's performance. Her expressions reflect the team's fortunes on the field—radiating joy when they perform well, and turning somber when they falter. Today, Kavya Maran smiled. And it was no ordinary win for her team; Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off a stunning and almost unbelievable victory that showcased the true strength of the franchise.
After four consecutive defeats, this marked the first win for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the current season. The triumph came on their home turf at Uppal Stadium, where they defeated Punjab Kings by a commanding margin of 8 wickets. Chasing a daunting target of 246 runs, the Hyderabad side reached the goal in just 18.3 overs.
The highlight of the match was Abhishek Sharma’s sensational century. The left-handed batter smashed 141 runs off just 55 balls, hitting 14 fours and 10 sixes, leaving Punjab’s bowlers with no answers. He had an early escape due to a no-ball but capitalized on the chance fully, delivering a punishing performance.
After completing his century, Abhishek Sharma pulled a white piece of paper from his pocket and held it up for everyone to see. Even Punjab Kings players examined it. The paper had a message: "This century is for the Orange Army." This gesture made it clear that Abhishek Sharma had set his sights on a century beforehand and stepped onto the field with immense confidence.
Supporting him was Travis Head, who also launched an aggressive attack, scoring 66 runs off 37 balls. The duo kept the crowd on its feet with their explosive partnership, leaving Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer visibly anxious on multiple occasions.
After both openers were dismissed, Heinrich Klaasen (21 not out) and Ishan Kishan (9 not out) ensured the job was finished. Klaasen sealed the match with a boundary, completing the remarkable chase.
This match now stands as the second-highest successful run chase in IPL history. Among the Punjab bowlers, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal took one wicket each. With this win, Sunrisers Hyderabad climbed to 8th position in the points table. So far, the team has played six matches and secured two victories.