In a blistering exhibition of pure hitting, Abhishek Sharma asserted himself on the largest of T20 stages with an eye-popping 141 off just 55 balls, as Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down 215 off Punjab Kings in a cakewalk. His innings not only torched records but also wrote his name in the exclusive list of IPL legends, as the third-highest individual score in IPL history.
Sustaining the partner for opening the innings in the form of Travis Head, Abhishek then tore apart the Punjab Kings‘ attack mercilessly. His inning had 10 sixes and 14 fours as he played merciless power mixed with otherworldly timing. The two batsmen compiled a 171-run stand to score one of the most crushing chases of the tournament this season. The Sunrisers achieved the target with nine balls remaining to end a four-match losing streak.
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With this innings, Abhishek stands second only to Chris Gayle’s 175 for RCB in 2013 and Brendon McCullum’s 158 for KKR in the inaugural IPL game in 2008. He surpassed Quinton de Kock’s 140 and AB de Villiers’ 133, with his 141 now being the record highest by an Indian in the IPL. Below is a brief rundown of the top five:
- Chris Gayle – 175 (RCB vs PWI, 2013)
- Brendon McCullum – 158 (KKR vs RCB, 2008)
- Abhishek Sharma – 141 (SRH vs PBKS, 2025)
- Quinton de Kock – 140 (LSG vs KKR, 2022)
- AB de Villiers – 133 (RCB vs MI, 2015)
Rise of Abhishek Sharma
This wasn’t a one-off performance either. Abhishek was in his prime form throughout the last IPL season. In the 2024 season, he broke Virat Kohli’s record for the most sixes by an Indian in a single IPL season.
In the 2024 IPL season Abhishek crossed the 41-six mark. While in February, playing for India, he smashed 135 against England in a T20I at Wankhede the highest T20I score by an Indian. This cemented his place as one of India’s brightest batting talents.
Abhishek’s evolution from a promising youngster to a match-winner is complete. With maturity favouring him and confidence skyrocketing, SRH and Indian cricket might well have discovered in the young player an enduring superstar in the making.
