Hyderabad: Yuvraj Singh heaped praise on his protégé Abhishek Sharma after the Sunrisers Hyderabad opener produced one of the finest innings in Indian Premier League history, smashing an unbeaten 135 against Delhi Capitals.

Abhishek’s explosive knock seals big win

Abhishek Sharma’s sensational 68-ball 135 not out powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a massive 242/2 at the Uppal Stadium. The innings, laced with 10 sixes and 10 boundaries, left Delhi Capitals with no realistic chance in the chase.

Delhi eventually managed 195/9, falling short by 47 runs as SRH climbed to third place in the standings.

Yuvraj’s special message

Soon after the match, Yuvraj Singh took to social media to congratulate Abhishek with a heartfelt message that reflected both pride and mentorship.

“Let the bat do the work! Getting better each day, well played Sir Abhishek! Keep up with the process,” Yuvraj posted.

The message quickly gained traction among fans, with many applauding the bond between the former India star and the young left-hander.

Among IPL’s greatest innings

Abhishek’s 135* now ranks among the highest individual scores in IPL history, further cementing his status as one of the most dangerous T20 batters.

Top IPL individual scores:

  • 175* – Chris Gayle (RCB vs PWI, 2013)
  • 158* – Brendon McCullum (KKR vs RCB, 2008)
  • 141 – Abhishek Sharma (SRH vs PBKS, 2025)
  • 140* – Quinton de Kock (LSG vs KKR, 2022)
  • 135* – Abhishek Sharma (SRH vs DC, 2026)

Tactical missteps hurt Delhi

Delhi Capitals’ bowling strategy came under heavy criticism. The decision to rely on part-time spinner Nitish Rana for his full quota backfired, as he conceded 55 runs in four overs.

Meanwhile, frontline spinners Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav bowled only two overs each, raising questions over tactical decisions by the team management led by Venugopal Rao and Hemang Badani.

The middle overs proved decisive, with SRH scoring a staggering 116 runs between overs 7 and 15, completely shifting the momentum.

SRH’s all-round dominance

Despite a relatively quiet start from Travis Head (37 off 26), Abhishek stitched together a 97-run opening stand. He then added 79 runs with skipper Ishan Kishan in under six overs.

Towards the end, Heinrich Klaasen provided the finishing touches with a blistering 37* off 13 balls.

With the ball, Eshan Malinga (4/32) and Sakib Hussain (1/29) ensured Delhi never mounted a comeback.

Conclusion

Abhishek Sharma’s innings was not just about power but also precision and adaptability, showcasing his evolution as a complete T20 batter. Yuvraj Singh’s praise underlines the youngster’s growing stature in Indian cricket.

For Delhi Capitals, the defeat exposed tactical flaws and execution gaps, while Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged as serious contenders with a dominant all-round performance.