Abhishek Sharma’s Historic Century Leads SRH to Victory Over Punjab Kings

 Hyderabad, April 12, 2025 – Undeterred by a recent string of four consecutive defeats, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) faithful, affectionately known as the Orange Army, turned out in force at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday night, witnessing a remarkable turnaround. The evening showcased an extraordinary display of batting prowess, culminating in a staggering 492 runs scored, with Abhishek Sharma stealing the spotlight by registering his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) century. His unbeaten 141, the highest individual score by an Indian in IPL history, outshone Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer’s impressive 82 off 36 balls, featuring six fours and six sixes.

The SRH opening partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head launched an audacious assault on the opposition, setting a blistering pace with a 171-run stand off just 75 deliveries. Head, typically a dominant force, played a supporting role, departing for a brisk 66 off 37 balls (nine fours, three sixes), as Abhishek capitalized on a lifeline at 27—surviving a caught-out call off a no-ball bowled by Impact player Yash Thakur. Abhishek dedicated his milestone knock to the Orange Army, underscoring the team’s resilience. By the time he was dismissed, SRH needed only 24 runs from 22 deliveries, with Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan sealing an eight-wicket victory at 247/2, finishing with nine balls to spare. This triumph is poised to bolster SRH’s confidence following earlier struggles with their bowling unit.

Iyer’s innings was equally compelling, his open stance facilitating a fluid execution of shots, many of which soared effortlessly for sixes. He built on a solid 66-run foundation laid by the in-form Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, whose left-right opening combination exploited SRH’s bowling attack. Opting to bat on a wicket where SRH had previously posted 286/6, Punjab Kings capitalized early, with the first three overs from Mohammed Shami and Pat Cummins conceding 53 runs. Arya’s 36 off 13 balls (two fours, four sixes) set the tone before his dismissal, positioning the visitors for their third score exceeding 200 this season.

Shami, however, endured a challenging night, leaking 37 runs in his initial two overs and a further 27 in his final over, where Marcus Stoinis hammered the last four deliveries for sixes. Despite the bowlers’ struggles, Abhishek’s historic performance and SRH’s commanding batting display underscored a pivotal moment in their IPL campaign, delighting a resilient home crowd.