In Abhishek Sharma’s T20 playbook, the white Kookaburra ball is an object destined to be dispatched into the stands at every available opportunity. At the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Tuesday, the southpaw (135 n.o., 68b, 10×4, 10×6) flaunted that destructive template with relish, lifting Sunrisers Hyderabad to a daunting 242 for two and setting up a 47-run win against Delhi Capitals in IPL-19. Abhishek was well-supported by Travis Head, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen.

DC’s response with the bat fell short as it finished on 195 for nine. While Nitish Rana scored a half-century, his 86-run stand with K.L. Rahul lacked the required urgency. When Rana slammed Shivang Kumar for two sixes in a 19-run eighth over, the momentum appeared to shift. But soon enough, SRH struck thrice in the space of four deliveries, with Sakib Hussain getting Rahul caught at deep square leg in the 10th over and Eshan Malinga excising Rana and David Miller in the 11th. Malinga finished with four for 32 while Harsh Dubey scalped three for 12.

The visitor’s effort proved to be no match to Abhishek’s onslaught. After ensconcing himself as a six-hitting phenom in India’s set-up in the two years leading up to the 2026 T20 World Cup, form may have deserted the 25-year-old for much of the marquee event. But he had no trouble in taking down the DC bowlers for his second century of his IPL career.

Considering Abhishek’s recent travails against off-spin, Capitals hoped that the use of Rana in the PowerPlay would make for an ideal match-up. It seemed a sound move when the part-time off-spinner conceded just six runs in the second over. But thereafter, he was treated with utter disdain as figures of 4-0-55-0 illustrate. He also spilled Abhishek on 86 at deep point.

When Head pulled Axar Patel to deep midwicket in the ninth over, it was an altogether brief lull. The onslaught resumed as Abhishek forged a 79-run stand off 35 deliveries with Kishan. That Klaasen also belted an unbeaten 37 off 13 balls was the icing on the cake for a partisan crowd.

Published on Apr 21, 2026