Abhishek Sharma Smashes 135 as SRH Crush Delhi Capitals

A breathtaking unbeaten 135 from Abhishek Sharma drove Sunrisers Hyderabad to a commanding 47-run victory over Delhi Capitals, piling up 242 for 2 before restricting DC to 195 for 9. Abhishek Sharma’s innings stood at the centre of everything, anchoring the full 20 overs while maintaining relentless scoring.

This was Abhishek’s ninth T20 century, taking him level with Virat Kohli for the most by an Indian, and placing him behind only three players overall. He also matched his own record of ten sixes in an SRH innings and added another entry into the top-five IPL scores.

Measured start sets the tone

For the second game running, Abhishek and Travis Head began cautiously, reaching 26 for 0 in three overs after a similar start in the previous match. The approach hinted at a calculated shift, ensuring wickets in hand rather than chasing an immediate surge.

Once set, Abhishek accelerated. Starting on 12 off seven balls, he quickly found his range against Lungi Ngidi and then targeted Nitish Rana, striking successive sixes to push the powerplay to 67 for 0. Even with DC attempting to control the middle overs through spin, Abhishek continued to dictate terms.

Acceleration through the middle overs

The defining phase came as Abhishek and Ishan Kishan dismantled Kuldeep Yadav, taking 22 runs off the 11th over. Despite tighter spells from T Natarajan and Mukesh Kumar, the pressure never eased.

When Rana returned, Abhishek surged again, collecting 23 runs in an over and bringing up his century in just 47 balls. Notably, while his first T20 hundred took 59 deliveries, his next eight centuries have all come in under 50 balls, underlining the shift in his scoring tempo.

Klaasen finishes what Abhishek started

At 115 after 15 overs, Abhishek looked set for an even bigger total but slowed late, scoring 20 off his final 17 balls. Heinrich Klaasen ensured there was no drop in momentum, smashing 37 off 13 deliveries, while Kishan contributed 25 off 13 as SRH surged to 242 for 2.

DC chase derailed despite resistance

Delhi Capitals never quite matched the required tempo. Nitish Rana top-scored with 57, while Sameer Rizvi added 41, but the asking rate kept climbing.

The contest effectively slipped away in the 10th and 11th overs, when Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain struck three times, leaving DC needing 137 off 58 balls. Earlier, Dilshan Madushanka had provided early movement and control, removing Pathum Nissanka.

Malinga’s spell proved decisive. He claimed 4 for 32, including a sequence that saw him on a hat-trick after dismissing Rana and David Miller in successive deliveries. His variations, including reverse swing and slower balls, maintained pressure throughout. Harsh Dubey added three wickets in the final over, all via catches in the deep.

What this result means

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s win lifts them level on points with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, though both rivals have a game in hand. The result was built around Abhishek Sharma’s 135 not out, an innings that combined control with sustained aggression across the full 20 overs.

For Delhi Capitals, the inability to contain Abhishek early and the loss of wickets in a key middle phase left them chasing a target that quickly moved out of reach.

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