April 13, 2025: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Abhishek Sharma marked a special moment in his career by scoring his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) century against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The young batter played a sensational knock, scoring 141 runs off just 55 balls, which was studded with 14 boundaries and 10 sixes, at a blistering strike rate of 256.36.
Abhishek’s explosive innings came at a crucial time when SRH was looking to break its losing streak, and his knock was instrumental in SRH chasing down a massive target of 246 set by PBKS. The partnership with Travis Head, who also contributed with a solid knock, was key in the team’s eight-wicket victory.
During the post-match presentation, Abhishek expressed his gratitude to his mentors, particularly legendary cricketer Yuvraj Singh and Mumbai Indians’ star Suryakumar Yadav. He mentioned that both of them had been in regular contact, offering valuable advice that helped him stay focused during the tough phase.
“We did not talk about anything specific; we just wanted to express ourselves and play the natural game. This knock is very special for me. I was thinking about breaking the losing streak, and as a youngster, it was tough. But the mood in the team was fantastic,” Abhishek said while receiving the Player of the Match award.
He further acknowledged the support from Yuvraj Singh and Suryakumar Yadav: “Special mention to Yuvi (paaji), I have been talking to him, and also thanks to Suryakumar Yadav as well. He’s been there for me and gave me some crucial advice.”
This stunning century has not only earned him the Player of the Match award but also helped SRH climb to the eighth position in the IPL 2025 points table. They were previously at the 10th spot before the match.
The victory has given SRH the much-needed confidence as they prepare for their next challenge — a clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 17 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With momentum on their side, SRH will be hoping to continue their resurgence in the tournament.