Abhishek Sharma’s IPL momentum has turned into a clear statement of intent, feeding into Sunrisers Hyderabad’s current surge that has delivered four consecutive wins and lifted them into the playoff picture. The spell has been underlined by his sensational 135* versus Delhi Capitals, and now the right-hander heads to the Wankhede Stadium looking to push Hyderabad’s push for the post-season further. In Mumbai, the spotlight is likely to fall on how his top-order approach handles Jasprit Bumrah—an opponent he knows is extremely hard to break down, even when Bumrah is not at his absolute peak. Abhishek’s father, Rajkumar Sharma, has backed him to find some big moments against the MI spearhead, while also stressing that his son’s best route to success is playing the ball on its merit.
Key takeaways
- Abhishek Sharma’s recent IPL form has coincided with Sunrisers Hyderabad winning their last four matches and moving into playoff contention.
- His defining knock so far has been a match-winning 135* against Delhi Capitals.
- The upcoming test for SRH at Wankhede is expected to be how their top order performs versus Jasprit Bumrah.
- Rajkumar Sharma believes Abhishek should attack well when opportunities arise, even against a world-class bowler.
- Rajkumar also framed Test cricket as a long-term goal for Abhishek, while emphasizing a desire for a long, multi-format career.
Abhishek vs Bumrah: a contest built on merit and big-hitting moments
With the match set to be played at the Wankhede Stadium—a ground Abhishek’s father said he holds a special interest in—one of the key matchups is set to revolve around SRH’s top order facing Jasprit Bumrah. Even if Bumrah is not looking fully like his feared best at the moment, Rajkumar pointed out that the bowler remains notoriously difficult to get away, especially for batters trying to impose their plans from ball one.
Rajkumar’s message to his son was clear: he wants Abhishek to keep playing in the same attacking manner that has defined his most productive stretches. He also linked the current moment to Abhishek’s earlier international exploits, expressing a desire to see a similar kind of impact at Wankhede as Abhishek had shown in a Test context against England. Rajkumar said he has come to the venue after a long gap and hopes Abhishek can repeat the kind of innings he is known for, referencing the famous 135* he produced earlier in 2025.
On the specific plan against Bumrah, Rajkumar added that if the ball is a good one, it should be treated accordingly, and Abhishek should let the delivery dictate the response. In his view, playing the ball on its merits is the quickest path to recurring success—because it allows the batter to commit to the right shot selections rather than forcing outcomes.
At the same time, Rajkumar insisted that Abhishek is capable of delivering damage even against the MI quick. He suggested that the game can still produce a couple of big hits—such as a pair or a small haul of sixes—because in T20 cricket even the best bowlers can be carved up when the timing and matchups align. He also described Bumrah as being like an elder brother to Abhishek, hinting that their familiarity could add another layer to what is expected to be a high-quality head-to-head.
Red-ball dreams and the bigger picture beyond the IPL
Abhishek and Bumrah share a relationship that goes beyond IPL rivalry, having been part of the same World Cup-winning group earlier this year. Rajkumar indicated that this connection is likely to help Abhishek settle quickly, particularly as Bumrah and other Indian internationals in the Mumbai Indians setup are a familiar set of characters for him. He also noted that some of MI’s senior India contingent have been working through patches of form, which can sometimes shape how matches unfold for teams at different stages of a season.
While the immediate focus is on Hyderabad’s chase for playoff positioning, Rajkumar framed Abhishek’s development in a broader cricketing context. He pointed out that Abhishek is in the running for the IPL 2026 Orange Cap, while also stressing that Abhishek’s game is not limited to being a “blind hitter.” In his assessment, Abhishek’s decision-making at the crease is active and intelligent—allowing him to manipulate the field, weigh options, and repeatedly choose the right aggressive stroke at the right time. Rajkumar’s view is that Abhishek has become one of the country’s most complete pure batters, not just a batter chasing boundaries for the sake of it.
Asked whether Abhishek has what it takes to earn a Test cap one day, Rajkumar acknowledged that red-ball selection is fiercely competitive. Still, he made it clear that Test cricket remains his son’s long-term dream. Rajkumar said every player wants to represent India in Tests and that he wants the opportunity for Abhishek when the moment is right. He added that he hopes Abhishek can play all formats, build a long career, and contribute by winning matches for India—an ambition that places the Wankhede challenge in the middle of a much larger journey.
