NEW DELHI: Abhishek Sharma put on a show in IPL 2026, remaining unbeaten on 135 as Sunrisers Hyderabad steamrolled Delhi Capitals. The innings itself was special, but it was his light-hearted, heartfelt moment after the match—directed toward his father—that left a lasting impression on everyone in the ground.
After finishing with the unbeaten triple-figure knock, Abhishek asked the broadcasters for a small favour. He said he wanted one of the cameras to keep cutting to his father so that viewers could see his reactions in real time. “Next time, I just want one of the cameras to go to him and see his reaction. It’s going to be really fun,” Abhishek said. He also described the bond they share while he plays: “It’s incredible how I always look at him and he’s always looking at me, giving me instructions. That also helps me a bit. And of course, it’s always special to perform in front of parents and friends as well.”
“He’s been guiding me since U-12 days”
Abhishek then opened up about how long his father has been part of his cricketing journey. He said his father has had a ringside role for years, including from their under-12 days. “To be very honest, I don’t know how since U-12 days my dad’s been sitting next to the screen. Even in Hyderabad, he’s always sitting there. And whenever I’m on the non-striker end, he tells me how to play. So it’s still going on,” he explained, underlining how the guidance continues to shape his decisions at the crease.
His father—seated close to the sightscreen—witnessed the latest chapter of that support as Abhishek tore into the Delhi attack with confident, fearless strokeplay. The innings carried an entertainment factor throughout, and the crowd responded as he controlled the tempo and kept finding boundaries.
Freedom, planning and a special celebration
Abhishek also pointed to the role of the team environment in helping him grow. He stressed that backing from the leadership has made a difference, especially in the way the side approaches games. “You have to have the backing from the captain and the coach… the environment we had in Sunrisers in 2024 was a game-changer,” he said.
On his batting approach, he explained that the start of the chase or innings (as SRH set up their plan) felt measured, prompting a shift in strategy. “The way we started, I felt we had a plan… it was a bit slow, so we had to re-plan. I just wanted to entertain the crowd,” Abhishek added.
He then spoke about his celebrations, including the widely recognised “L” gesture. “I’ve been doing this L celebration for quite long. It’s just love for the stadium, the way they support us throughout all the tournament and all the games, even back at the hotel as well. It’s just, I want to contribute from my side. I want to show some love to them,” he said.
Abhishek also mentioned that his newer celebration came after a rare milestone: he managed to bat through until the 20th over, something he seemed proud to have achieved on the night.
Finally, Abhishek dedicated the innings to his family, with special mention of his sister, who was unable to attend because she was unwell. With solid support from his teammates, his 135* helped SRH reach 242/2 and convert the dominant performance into a convincing 47-run victory over Delhi Capitals.
