Abhishek Sharma’s Power-Hitting Blitz Powers SRH to Record-Breaking Feat in IPL 2026
It was a run-fest under the sun at Mullanpur as Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head unleashed a stunning display of power-hitting to leave Punjab Kings shell-shocked in their IPL 2026 clash on Saturday.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad openers tore into the bowling attack from the outset, racing to a staggering 120/0 in just eight overs. Their dominance was most evident during the powerplay, where SRH piled up 105/0 in six overs—one of the highest scores in IPL history during that phase.
Abhishek Equals Six-Hitting Record
Abhishek Sharma was the chief aggressor, smashing seven sixes in the powerplay (eight overall), equalling the record for the most sixes hit in the first six overs of an IPL innings. His fearless approach put him alongside greats like Sanath Jayasuriya, Jos Buttler, and Jonny Bairstow in the elite list.
SRH Create Unique World Record
In the process, Sunrisers Hyderabad also scripted a unique world record. This marked the third time SRH have crossed the 100-run mark in the powerplay in T20 cricket—no other men’s team has achieved this feat more than once.
Their previous powerplay blitzes included 125/0 against Delhi Capitals and 107/0 against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024, further underlining their aggressive batting philosophy.
Toss and Team Changes
Earlier, Shreyas Iyer, captain of Punjab Kings, won the toss and opted to bowl first, citing the advantage of assessing pitch conditions in a day game.
SRH skipper Ishan Kishan admitted he would have preferred to bowl first but expressed confidence in his young squad’s ability to adapt and execute their plans.
Sunrisers Hyderabad made two changes, handing a debut to Praful Hinge and bringing in Salil Arora, while leaving out England star Liam Livingstone in a surprising call.
Fireworks Set the Tone
With Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head firing on all cylinders, SRH laid down an early marker in the contest. Their explosive start not only dismantled the opposition’s plans but also added another chapter to IPL’s growing list of record-breaking batting performances.
As the match progressed, SRH’s blistering start ensured they stayed firmly in control, leaving Punjab Kings searching for answers after a brutal powerplay assault.
