Abhishek Sharma's blazing 141 off 55 powers second-highest run chase in IPL history

Abhishek’s Record-Breaking 141 Powers SRH to Second-Highest IPL Chase

Sunrisers Hyderabad 247 for 2 (Abhishek 141, Head 66) beat Punjab Kings 245 for 6 (Iyer 82, Prabhsimran 42, Arya 36, Harshal 4-42) by eight wickets

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) snapped a four-match losing streak in spectacular fashion by chasing down a mammoth 246 — the second-highest successful chase in IPL history — against Punjab Kings (PBKS), the very side that holds the record for the highest.

The win was orchestrated by the long-awaited return to form of the explosive duo Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma — dubbed “Travishek” — whose season-best 171-run opening stand dismantled PBKS’s bowling attack.

A Batting Paradise in Hyderabad

After struggling on a turning pitch last week, Hyderabad's surface reverted to its batting-friendly self, and Abhishek made the most of it. He came into the match with scores of 18, 2, 1, and 6, but found his rhythm with a flurry of early boundaries off Marco Jansen.

He got a lucky break on 28 when he was caught off a no-ball — and made PBKS pay, smashing his first six of the season off the free hit. That lit the fuse for what became one of the most sensational innings of the season.

Abhishek reached his maiden IPL hundred in just 40 balls — the fastest by an Indian — and finished with a blistering 141 off 55, studded with 7 fours and 10 sixes. His aggressive intent didn’t waver, even after the milestone, as he continued launching the ball into the stands before falling in the 17th over.

Travis Head, playing the perfect foil, hammered 66 off 32 and was only dismissed after the match had tilted completely in SRH’s favor. The partnership’s tempo left PBKS flat-footed, with even tempers flaring as Glenn Maxwell and Head exchanged words mid-innings.

Harshal Patel’s Key Intervention

While Abhishek stole the limelight, Harshal Patel’s 4 for 42 played a crucial role in pulling PBKS back after a flying start. He struck early to remove the dangerous Priyansh Arya and returned at the death to take out Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, and Shreyas Iyer — halting PBKS’s march towards a potentially 260-plus total.

Despite a brutal final over from Marcus Stoinis, who smashed Mohammed Shami for four sixes in a 27-run finish (Shami ending with 4-0-75-0), PBKS's 245 felt slightly under par, considering their start and SRH's batting-friendly pitch.

SRH Finish with a Flourish

After Abhishek’s dismissal, Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan coolly saw off the remaining runs, finishing the chase with nine balls to spare. It was a complete batting masterclass from SRH, overshadowing some strong performances from PBKS earlier in the day.

PBKS’s First-Innings Fireworks

Shreyas Iyer’s 36-ball 82 and Priyansh Arya’s electric start set the tone for PBKS, with Arya smashing the joint-fastest fifty of the season. The momentum dipped only after Harshal's spell broke their middle-order surge. Eshan Malinga, making his debut, also chipped in with two wickets.

Still, the night belonged to Abhishek Sharma — whose historic knock not only rewrote records but reminded everyone of his untapped potential at the top of the order.

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