Abhishek Sharma produced a brilliant unbeaten hundred to dismantle a struggling Delhi Capitals attack, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad post a commanding 242 for 2 on a calm surface in an IPL game on Tuesday. Abhishek carried his bat through the innings, finishing unbeaten on 135 from 68 balls, as he looked completely in control against both Nitish Rana’s off-spin (0/55 from four overs) and Lungi Ngidi’s slower deliveries (0/41 from four overs). He struck 10 sixes and hit the same number of fours, turning his timing and power into an ongoing threat from the first phase of the chase that never truly got going.
With Travis Head relatively quiet in comparison—37 off 26 balls—Abhishek still built a strong platform. The pair added 97 runs for the opening partnership. Once Ishan Kishan came in, the momentum accelerated further: Kishan contributed 25 off 13 balls, and together they stitched another 79-run stand for the second wicket in just 5.5 overs, setting up a smooth launchpad for Sunrisers’ final surge.
As Abhishek began to look slightly fatigued near the end, Heinrich Klaasen took the baton and struck quickly, smashing 37 not out from just 13 deliveries to ensure the innings finished with maximum impact.
DC Not at Their Tactical Best
Delhi Capitals’ decision to begin with an off-spinner—especially a part-time option like Nitish Rana—did not pay off. Rana bowled a disciplined first over, but the second went for 20 runs, and after the strategic break, he was still allowed two more overs. One of those post-time-out overs cost 23 runs, compounding the damage.
Skipper Axar Patel (1/23 in two overs) will also need to explain why a frontline spinner did not complete his full quota, and why Kuldeep Yadav (0/30 in two overs) was not given more responsibility after an expensive spell in which 22 runs were conceded. In contrast, Rana was kept in the attack for extended spells despite the mounting hits.
Overall, the duo of spinners used by DC—Rana plus another two-and-a-half spinner options, with Rana accounting for the “half”—ended up conceding 108 runs across eight overs.
The Powerplay brought in 67 runs for Delhi, but the bigger issue arrived during the middle overs, from 7 to 15, when Sunrisers piled on 116 runs. That stretch proved far too costly and effectively removed any realistic chance of controlling the innings.
The defining feature of Abhishek’s knock was how he adjusted his bat angle and downswing based on the bowler, particularly when facing Ngidi. He typically picked the right moments to go late and also looked comfortable playing in front of the wicket. Many of his big hits—especially the sixes—came from that front-foot, in-position striking zone, showing a clear plan rather than random aggression.
While the century was marginally slower than his usual standards, Abhishek still reached the milestone with a strike rate above 200, getting to his hundred in 47 balls. He didn’t stop there either, as Sunrisers Hyderabad ended on a total that looks almost impossible to chase, particularly given the batting depth Delhi Capitals still possess.
