Abhishek Sharma Shines with Record-Breaking Century for Sunrisers Hyderabad

In a thrilling match, Abhishek Sharma of Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered a record-breaking century against Delhi Capitals, scoring 135 runs off 68 balls. His performance not only secured him the Player of the Match award but also marked his second IPL century. With support from his teammates and management, Sharma showcased his ability to adapt to challenging pitch conditions. SRH's captain, Ishan Kishan, praised Sharma's innings and emphasized the team's strategy of focusing on each match individually. Eshan Malinga's four-wicket haul helped SRH defend their massive total of 243, leading to a convincing 47-run victory. Read on to discover more about this exciting match and Sharma's remarkable achievements.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 22, 2026, 01:09 IST

Abhishek Sharma's Remarkable Performance

After achieving a record-setting century against Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) star batter Abhishek Sharma shared insights on his approach. He and teammate Travis Head initially aimed to attack but had to modify their strategy due to the pitch conditions. Sharma highlighted the challenge of determining a par score and credited the support from the captain, coaches, and management for allowing him to play with confidence, stating, 'I play like this for Punjab, and Punjabi players prefer to play freely.'

'I Play Like This for Punjab': Abhishek Sharma

Sharma set multiple records during his innings, marking his second-highest score in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a thrilling match on Tuesday, he scored his second IPL century against Delhi Capitals, reaching the milestone in just 47 balls. His innings included 9 fours and 10 sixes, culminating in an impressive 135 runs off 68 balls, contributing to SRH's total of 242/2. 'We had a plan to utilize the power play, but the slow wicket required us to adapt our strategy. The par score is unclear until both teams have batted. I appreciate the freedom given by the coaches and captain, which has been crucial for my performance,' Sharma remarked.

Record-Breaking Performance

For his exceptional performance, Sharma was named Player of the Match, marking his seventh such award in 81 matches, the highest for an Indian player in SRH history, surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar's six awards in 145 games. With this century, Abhishek now has nine T20 centuries, tying with Virat Kohli among Indian players. Chris Gayle leads the all-time list with 22 centuries, followed by Babar Azam with 12 and David Warner with 10. Abhishek joins notable players like Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw in this elite group.

SRH Captain Praises Abhishek

Ishan Kishan, the SRH captain, praised Abhishek Sharma for his remarkable innings and also acknowledged Heinrich Klaasen for his strong finish. Kishan emphasized the team's focus on taking each match as it comes, adapting to conditions rather than adhering to strict plans. 'Abhishek's batting was phenomenal, and Klaasen's finish was impressive. We aim to approach each game individually, understanding the conditions rather than sticking to a rigid strategy. I just wanted to maximize the runs scored per ball,' Kishan stated.

SRH Successfully Defends Their Total

In a commanding performance, Eshan Malinga took four wickets, leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to a 47-run victory over Delhi Capitals while defending a massive total of 243.