Hyderabad, April 21, 2026 – Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma delivered a masterclass in power-hitting, scoring an unbeaten 135 runs to propel his team to a commanding 47-run victory over the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. His innings now stands as the fifth-highest individual score in the tournament's history.
Batting through the entire 20 overs, the 25-year-old left-hander smashed 10 sixes and 10 fours in his 68-ball stay at the crease, reaching his century in just 47 deliveries. His explosive performance helped Sunrisers post a formidable total of 242 for 2.
"I always wanted to show my talent in the powerplay, but you have to have the backing from the captain and the coach," Abhishek said after the match. "The environment we had since 2024 was the game-changer for us. I always wanted to play like this."
Abhishek's score has only been surpassed in the IPL by legendary innings from Chris Gayle (175*), Brendon McCullum (158*), his own 141 on the same ground last season, and Quinton de Kock's 140. This century also marks his ninth in T20 cricket, placing him joint-fourth on the all-time list.
The Delhi Capitals, in reply, managed 195 for 9, with seamer Eshan Malinga claiming 4 wickets for 32 runs. The win solidifies Sunrisers' position in the league standings.
Abhishek, currently the world's top-ranked T20 batter, has been in scintillating form. Despite a slow start in the recent T20 World Cup, he played a crucial knock of 52 in the final to help India clinch the title. His formidable partnership with Australian Travis Head at Sunrisers has been a key factor in the team's success, flourishing under the leadership of coach Daniel Vettori and captain Pat Cummins.
Remarkably, three of Abhishek's four T20 centuries have been scored at Sunrisers' home ground in Hyderabad, a venue known for high-scoring encounters. His latest innings, characterized by powerful straight drives that accounted for 62 of his runs, further cements his reputation as one of the most destructive batters in the modern game.