Abhishek smashes unbeaten 135 as Sunrisers blow away Capitals

Opener Abhishek Sharma scored an impressive unbeaten 135 from 68 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad reached 242 for 2 and secured a 47-run victory over Delhi Capitals in Match 31 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.

The left-hander’s innings was a lesson in controlled aggression. He reached his fifty in just 25 balls and got his ninth T20 hundred in 47 balls, pacing the innings well before launching a fierce attack.

By the 15-over mark, he moved ahead of Heinrich Klaasen in the Orange Cap race, highlighting his dominance this season.

Their bowlers did not disappoint either and Sri Lankan paceman Eshan Malinga stood out with his IPL best of 4-32 to help restrict Delhi to 195-9.

Abhishek underlined the significance of delivering at home, while also acknowledging the opposition’s execution at the death. “I mean of course it’s always special to perform in front of the orange army.

“The way they bowled in the death overs, I thought they were executing their plans. I think I haven’t practiced death batting much. But the way (Heinrich) Klaasen played, it helped us get to that total.”

The left-hander revealed that Klaasen played a key role in helping him stay composed when he began forcing the pace.

SRH started their innings steadily but quickly gained momentum. Delhi briefly regained some control with Nitish Rana’s offspin during the Power-play, allowing just six runs while SRH scored 15 for no loss after two overs.

However, the strategy backfired once the batters found their rhythm.

When Rana returned after SRH reached 36 for no loss in four overs, he was taken apart in a 20-run over with three sixes, pushing the score to 56 without loss.

Abhishek led the way, scoring 21 off 12 and dominating the attack along with Travis Head. The two put together another smooth partnership in the Power-play, taking SRH to 67 for no loss.

The final ball of this phase marked the team’s 70th six of the season, surpassing Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s total of 69.

Head, who began cautiously, accelerated to 37 off 26 before getting out at 97 for 1 in 8.5 overs. He mishit a long hop from Axar Patel to deep midwicket after hitting two sixes in the over. However, this breakthrough did not slow SRH.

Ishan Kishan added a quick 25 off 13 before being run out at the non-striker’s end, bringing Klaasen to the crease at a key moment. The South African finished the innings with a powerful 37 off just 13 balls, helping SRH easily exceed the 240-mark.

In the middle overs, Kuldeep Yadav struggled as SRH raced to 126 for 1 in 11 overs, with Abhishek and Kishan attacking aggressively. Even though conditions looked perfect for reverse swing on a dry pitch, Delhi’s seamers, including Mukesh Kumar, could not find any movement, allowing SRH to take control.

Delhi’s chase, though spirited, faced the challenge of a huge target. They fought hard and had moments of resistance, but early mistakes in the field—dropped catches, a missed run-out, and poor bowling changes—proved costly.

With spinners Axar and Kuldeep bowling only two overs each and Rana conceding 55 runs in his four overs, DC struggled to take control.

Rana, brought into the playing XI for this match, top-scored with 57 while Sameer Rizvi contributed 41 runs but in the end that proved insufficient.

The defeat leaves Delhi regretting missed chances, while SRH, fuelled by Abhishek’s outstanding century, celebrated their third straight win and climbed to third on the points table, overtaking the Rajasthan Royals.

Shanaka banned from PSL for one year: Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka was banned for one year from the Pakistan Super League on Monday after breaking his agreement to join the IPL.

Shanaka was picked by defending champions the Lahore Qalandars at the PSL auction for $27,000. But he went to the IPL’s Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for England’s Sam Curran for $214,000. Shanaka, who returned to IPL after three years, has yet to play in the ongoing IPL.

Shanaka withdrew from the PSL unilaterally and the Pakistan Cricket Board said it “constituted a clear breach of both the player’s registration terms and the tripartite agreement.”

Agencies