On a day when batting records had to be rewritten, Abhishek Sharma stood tall with his 54-ball 141 – the highest-ever by an Indian batter in IPL history. Sunrisers Hyderabad overhauled Punjab Kings’ 245 with 8 wickets and 9 balls to spare, outlasting them in a thrill-a-minute hit-a-thon. Abhishek Sharma smashed a hundred off 40 balls for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Hyderabad in IPL 2025. It was the sixth-fastest hundred in the IPL, and led SRH’s chase of 246.
Languishing at the bottom of the points table before this game, SRH roared back to form on a pitch that was more suited to their hitting strengths. Abhishek Sharma flashed a note that read – “This one is for Orange Army”, after completing his hundred as the home crowd was treated to a boundary-blitz.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : “Atmospherically, it is okay, doesn’t feel too hot and that’s a good thing, the players will feel good about that. Normally it is steamy here. Playing dimensions are small and smaller, 63 and 69m square boundaries, 77m straight. It’s good to be a batsman. The only bit of grass is here behind the stumps, it’s an absolute belter, it looks beautiful and it’s going to play well.
I think you’re looking at 220-230 par score. Ideally, win the toss and bat for 40 overs – well that’s not in the rules. It’s the notorious pitch no. 2 where 211 is the par score. We haven’t seen too much dew here, the toss doesn’t play too big a part. Pristine conditions” remark Pommie Mbangwa and Michael Clarke.
Toss : Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bat with no changes in the Playing XI. Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins bowling first made one change in the Playing XI as Eshan Malinga made his IPL debut in place of Kamindu Mendis
Skipper Shreyas Iyer’s 82 runs alongside blitz from Priyansh, Prabhsimran and Stoinis powers PBKS to 245 in 20 overs despite Harshal Patels 4-fer.
Punjab Kings, having opted to bat, walked the talk of taking the aggressive route straight-up. Reputations were scuttled as both Pat Cummins and Mohammed Shami were taken down by the young duo of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. The duo were plundered for 53 in the first three overs, bringing up Punjab Kings’ first fifty-plus opening stand of the season, and their third quickest in IPL history. The pitch held no demons, allowing for innovative strokeplay but both Arya and Singh were also adept in pre-empting what the ball could be.
Harshal Patel was the change-up brought in by SRH to counter the carnage and the experienced bowler fared slightly better with his change of pace, as well as playing the dimensions. Arya was forced to take a slower one angled across towards the shorter onside and in the process skied a catch to midwicket, which was taken well by Nitish Reddy pedalling back. An eight-run over from Cummins soon after the wicket pulled things back slightly for SRH before Harshal was taken for 15 in the final over of the powerplay.
Generally used at the death, Harshal was brought on early to try and stem the run flow, and he delivered in his very first over, the fourth, when he had Arya hack an off-cutters to the longer leg-side boundary with Nitish Reddy taking the skier at mid-on.
The two overs immediately after the powerplay helped SRH apply the brakes with no boundaries being conceded. Additionally, Eshan Malinga who had replaced Kamindu Mendis for SRH, struck in his first over as Prabhsimran hacked a back of length delivery straight to mid off. But his 23-ball 42 had already put Punjab Kings well on their way. Taking over from him was skipper Shreyas Iyer who smashed a 22-ball fifty – his fastest in the IPL.
Iyer and Nehal Wadhera injected the momentum back in the innings with a six apiece off Malinga. Iyer took down the legspin of Zeeshan Ansari, who had started off well, getting 20 in his third over. Apart from his trademark lofts off the full balls, Iyer also unleashed a reverse sweep to keep the spinner guessing.
Malinga then yorked Wadhera, who did not review an LBW decision, only for replays to show that it could have missed the offstump. But that 73-run stand for the third wicket ensured PBKS kept going at a healthy rate. Harshal came back to trap Shashank Singh cheaply in the next over as SRH kept chipping away at one end even as Iyer carried the team.
Iyer continued to be the powerhouse for PBKS towards the back end of the innings. He hit four fours off Malinga in the 17th over taking PBKS past the 200-run mark. But SRH hit back through Harshal who first foxed Glenn Maxwell with a loopy, slow yorker and then had Iyer chipping to short third man, bringing an end to a 36-ball 82.
A 36-ball 82 from Shreyas Iyer and an early turbocharge from Priyansh Arya that helped raise the joint-fastest half-century of the season helped set up the game. PBKS threatened to blaze past 250 halfway into the innings, but then appeared to fall well short of that mark as Harshal picked up the big wickets of Shreyas and Glenn Maxwell in a gun 18th over – he finished with 4 for 42.
But his real impact was in the last six overs. Coming on for his third, in the 15th, he foxed the dangerous Shashank Singh with an off cutter that trapped him lbw in a nine-run over. Then off the 18th, with PBKS looking for a lift-off, he had a struggling Maxwell bowled off a dipping slower ball as he attempted a reverse ramp, and then Iyer two balls later when he took all the pace off to have him lob one to point in trying to hit the ball over the infield.
Then Marcus Stoinis, who hadn’t made much of an impact with the bat, got stuck into Mohammed Shami, hitting him for four consecutive sixes in the final over that went for 27 as PBKS finished with 245 for 6. Shami’s figures read a forgettable 4-0-75-0, his most expensive spell.
In between Harshal’s heroics, Eshan Malinga, the Sri Lankan seamer, gave a good account of himself on debut to pick up two wickets. Patel finished with 4-42 on a good batting surface, and proved to be SRH’s standout bowler of the night. But just as SRH were thinking about a strong finish, their hopes ended in a blistering assault from Marcus Stoinis against Mohammed Shami in the final over. He finished the innings with four consecutive sixes as Shami conceded 27 to finish with figures of 4-0-75-0.
Abhishek Sharma’s historic 141 runs powers SRH to thumping record breaking 8 wicket win over PBKS
Abhishek Sharma could have been dismissed twice inside the powerplay – the first was a tough chance at short cover which was grassed and the second was taken but bowler Yash Thakur had overstepped. Those were the slices of luck he’d need in an otherwise hitathon that saw him score 49 of the 83 that SRH powered to inside the first six overs. Punjab Kings were robbed off their biggest weapon in Lockie Ferguson, who pulled up with an injury and had to walk off after bowling just two balls.
Coming off scores of 18, 2, 1, and 6, Abhishek Sharma hit the ground running with three consecutive fours off Marco Jansen in the second over of the chase. Head followed suit by giving similar treatment to Arshdeep Singh, peppering the ball to different pockets. Abhishek Sharma got a lifeline on 28 when Yash Thakur, who came on as an Impact Sub for Nehal Wadhera, overstepped and had him slice a catch to deep point. Abhishek Sharma capitalized on the free-hit with his first six of the season, sparking the explosion.
Travis Head, in comparison, remained a mute spectator but he too chipped in, like the five fours against Arshdeep Singh across two overs. But it was Abhishek who really turned the heat on, hitting four fours in a Marco Jansen over before laying into Thakur as well. SRH could not have wished for a better start in the mammoth chase.
PBKS’s woes deepened as Ferguson walked off clutching his hip two balls into his spell, and when Yuzvendra Chahal dropped Abhishek off his own bowling on 57, the wheels had truly come off. Abhishek punished him with a six next ball, as SRH stormed to 100 by the eighth over.
Having watched the carnage from the other end, Head pummelled Glenn Maxwell for back-to-back sixes as SRH were halfway to their target inside the ninth over of their chase. The carnage bubbled over into full-blown tension when Maxwell let out a few fiery words to Head, with Marcus Stoinis playing mediator.
Abhishek Sharma got to his fifty but was dropped once again, this time by Yuzvendra Chahal off his own bowling and it proved to be one of the costliest drops. He simply went from strength to strength, never letting up. His hundred came up in just 40 balls as he opened up newer areas in the middle overs, toying with Punjab’s ploys.
While the straight fields were packed, Abhishek Sharma would simply move across and pepper the fine leg boundaries with a range of shots that left the bowlers perplexed. Whenever there was anything in the hitting range, he was good enough to clear the ropes.
Among all the big sixes Abhishek hit, a strong bottom-handed helicopter shot off former team-mate Marco Jansen stood out. This six off an attempted yorker was a follow-up to a short ball on the body which Abhishek managed to pummel over deep square. He ended the over with back-to-back fours, ridiculously scooping and picking off length balls behind the wicketkeeper.
By the time PBKS had a wicket, when Chahal had Head holing out to Maxwell at long-on, the muted celebration told you the story of a team that had already been deflated. Abhishek raised his century four balls later as the Orange Army stood up and applauded.
He ended up getting the highest-ever individual score by an Indian in IPL history in the process. And it left Head overshadowed, although he brought up a fifty off 31 balls with consecutive sixes off Glenn Maxwell. Their 171-run stand was also the highest for any wicket in this season. By the time Head hit Chahal to long on, SRH were already sitting pretty. It only got more comfortable, with Abhishek Sharma unrelenting in his hitting streak.
Abhishek Sharma would hit five more sixes after bringing up his maiden IPL century, and when he fell in the 17th over to good friend and Punjab team-mate Arshdeep, there was widespread applause from both the crowd and the opponents. Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan then saw off the chase with nine balls to spare.
Abhishek Sharma’s 55-ball 141 ended when he finally hit Arshdeep to deep midwicket and walked out to a deserving standing ovation. But SRH’s boundary-hitting never ended as they took only two more overs to wrap up an incredible chase – the second-highest ever in IPL history. Heinrich Klaasen provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 21 off 14.
Punjab Kings hit 34 boundaries in total to get to 245. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head hit 29 by themselves in the 171-run stand – the highest partnership of the season. Sharma alone hit 24 by the end of his innings. And on this day, that was the only currency that mattered. In all SRH hit 40 boundaries in nine balls fewer.
Punjab Kings didn’t help themselves by letting three chances of Abhishek slip, whilst also being a bowler short with the injury to Lockie Ferguson. Abhishek’s inventiveness in his hitting spree also proved critical in the middle overs where the Punjab Kings had slowed down in comparison to SRH. When the straight fields were packed, Abhishek Sharma was able to target the fine leg boundaries without any let-up in momentum. With Abhishek at the crease, SRH never had the required run-rate out of sight, and cruised to victory in the end.
Presentation and Road Ahead
Pat Cummins the winning SRH skipper said : Amazing. It suits our style and we know we are gonna get. It’s a good wicket and the ball pings around here. Any over under 10 you feel like a big win as a bowler. It’s kind of crazy that you feel semi-confident chasing that score.
Pretty big fan of his (Abhishek) batting. We didn’t want to change the recipe. The batting group played quite a bit last year and we are confident of their abilities. They (the fans) are amazing, always waving the flags and great atmosphere.
Shreyas Iyer the losing PBKS skipper said : I think it was a fantastic total to be honest. Still making me laugh that they (SRH) chased it with 2 overs to spare. We could have taken a few catches, but he (Abhishek) was lucky. He was exceptional. In a nutshell we didn’t bowl to our expectations, we have to go to the drawing board and make amends.
The opening partnership (between Abhishek and Head) was phenomenal, they didn’t give us too many opportunities to capitalize. The over rotation could have been better from our side. Ferguson can give you wickets, but that (injuries) happens, it’s a part and parcel of the game.
These are the learnings for us going forward. The other bowlers could have done the same though. Myself and Wadhera thought 230 was a good total, but I think the dew made it harder for us (during the second innings.) The way they (SRH openers) batted was out of the world, it (Abhishek’s knock) was one of the best knock I have seen.
Abhishek Sharma Player of the Mach for his ballistic 141 runs said : It’s not easy for any player to go through that form. Special mention to the team and captain, very simple message to the batters although I was not doing well. Had a talk with Travis and it was a special day for both of us. I never play anything behind the wicket, I was trying a few shots because I wanted to invent a few shots because of the size and the bounce on this wicket.
The whole team is waiting for my parents. They are very lucky for the team and Orange Army. We did not talk anything, we just wanted to express and play the natural game.
This one is very special and I was thinking that I wanted to break the losing streak, it was very tough as a player and as a youngster, but the mood in the team was very good. Special mention to Yuvi (paaji), I have been talking to him and also thanks to Suryakumar Yadav as well. I have been in touch with him and he has been there for me.
Sunrisers Hyderabad ended a four-match losing streak in style by pulling off the second-highest run chase in IPL history, effortlessly chasing 246 against the team that holds the record. The win was made possible by Travishek, who finally clicked this season. On a Hyderabad pitch back to its batting-friendly best after last week’s turner against Gujarat Titans, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head capitalised, punishing Punjab Kings with the season’s highest partnership – 171 in just 12.2 overs – after two missed chances off Abhishek.
The left-hander, previously without a six this season, smashed six on his way to a 40-ball century that floored PBKS. He then added a few more after celebrating his landmark with a note: “This one is for the Orange Army.”
Abhishek’s maiden IPL century – the highest score by an Indian – stole the spotlight, but Harshal Patel’s 4 for 42 was just as crucial, helping cut PBKS short by at least 20 runs from what they seemed set to score. It was only their second loss of the season, made worse by an injury to key pacer Lockie Ferguson.
Lost 4 in a row, but no problem. SRH pull off the second highest chase in the history of IPL. Shreyas Iyer looks dazzled, and the crowd are in no mood to leave the stadium. It was a heady cocktail that none of them were ready for.
This game is not just a brute reminder of the incredible talent that Abhishek Sharma possesses, but also a harsh lesson to those who believe in the adage “catches win you matches”. Abhishek was put down on 4 (by Stoinis), then was caught off a no-ball (on 28), then dropped on 56 by Chahal off his own bowling. You could argue, both were tough chances but on a pitch that proved to be a batting paradise, you want to convert those half-chances. Lockie’s injury didn’t help their cause either….
While Travis Head, surprisingly, played the second fiddle for major part of the chase, Abhishek Sharma was in no mood to relent. After those early reprieves, he decided that it is his day today and clobbered bowlers all around the park. The interesting feature in his batting was that he used the crease to good effect to shuffle and negate the wide line-bowling. Abhishek = 141 off 55. Head+Klaasen+Ishan = 96 off 57.
THIS ONE IS FOR ORANGE ARMY. Whether Abhishek Sharma had that note ready just before this game or earlier is a topic for another day, but one man will be over the moon at the moment. And that man was undoubtedly one of India’s best all-rounders in white-ball cricket.
Who else, but Yuvraj Singh – the mentor of Abhishek. What a night this is for the SRH fans. They were down and out after 4 successive losses, and the victory, and the manner in how they won, couldn’t have come at a better time. Warner. Williamson. Cummins, Klaasen, Head, Abhishek….The list of cricketers that have a special spot in the hearts of SRH fans continues to grow bigger.
Punjab Kings have a busy schedule up ahead with three games in eight days. The first is back in Mullanpur where they host Kolkata Knight Riders (on April 15) before playing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (April 18) in back-to-back games. In contrast Sunrisers Hyderabad have a four-day gap before they go to face Mumbai Indians on April 17.