Punjab Kings' Arshdeep Singh, right, congratulates Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma for his impressive batting after dismissing him during the IPL 2025 match at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on April 12, 2025. Photo: AP
Abhishek Sharma smashed 141 off 55 balls against Punjab Kings to help Sunrisers Hyderabad chase down 245 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. The left-handed batter hit 14 boundaries and 10 sixes as he registered the sixth-fastest hundred in the IPL. Abhishek achieved this big hundred after a string of poor performances.
PBKS spin-bowling coach Sunil Joshi praised Abhishek but fumed over the missed chances that allowed the batter to continue with the carnage.
"I think Abhishek played really well but he had a few opportunities, we missed them—one was a no-ball, and we missed a couple of chances," Joshi said in the post-match press conference. "So, in T20 cricket, it is always hit and miss, and Abhishek capitalized today."
Abhishek stitched a 171-run partnership for the opening wicket with Travis Head, who hit 66 off 37 balls. Their partnership laid the foundation for SRH's chase, as the latter's batters did not have to toil too hard to take the team home in 18.3 overs.
It was SRH's second win of the season as they rose to the eighth spot on the IPL 2025 standings.
Abhishek now holds the record for the highest score by an Indian in the IPL, surpassing KL Rahul's 132, achieved in 2020 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
In the overall list, his knock stands in third place behind Chris Gayle's 175 not out for RCB against Pune Warriors India in 2013 and Brendon McCullum's 158 for Kolkata Knight Riders against RCB in 2008.
Abhishek also became the highest run-scorer from boundaries for SRH, scoring 116 runs off boundaries, breaking the record of Jonny Bairstow (90).
After choosing to bat first, PBKS posted 245 for 6 in 20 overs, with openers Priyansh Arya (36 off 13 balls) and Prabhsimran Singh (42 off 23 balls) giving them a great start. Captain Shreyas Iyer (82 off 36 balls) and Marcus Stoinis (34 off 11 balls) powered PBKS to 245 for 6 in their 20 overs.
However, Abhishek and Head destroyed the PBKS bowlers by forming a 171-run partnership. After Head's dismissal, Abhishek continued to rage while Heinrich Klaasen (21) and Ishan Kishan (9) put some finishing touches, chasing down the mammoth total.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from IPL 2025,IPL Orange Cap, IPL Purple Cap, Most Sixes in IPL, Cricket, Sports and around the world.
