Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Abhishek Sharma delivered a night to remember in IPL 2026, smashing an unbeaten 135 to power Sunrisers Hyderabad to a dominant win over Delhi Capitals — but it was his emotional and humorous post-match tribute to his father that truly captured hearts.After his breathtaking knock, Abhishek made a special request to broadcasters, saying: “And next time, I just want one of the cameras to just go to him and just see his reactions. It’s going to be really fun. And it’s actually incredible how I always look at him and he’s always looking at me and giving me the instructions. So that also helps me a bit. And of course, it’s always special to perform in front of the parents and the friends as well.”READ ALSO: IPL 2026 Orange Cap race: Abhishek Sharma surges past Heinrich Klaasen to claim top spot‘He’s been guiding me since U-12 days’The SRH opener revealed that his father has been a constant presence throughout his journey. “To be very honest, I don’t know how since U12 days, my dad’s been sitting next to the screen always and in Hyderabad as well, he’s always sitting there. And whenever I’m just on the non-striker end, he always tells me how to play. So it’s still going on,” Abhishek said, highlighting the unique bond that continues to shape his game.His father, seated near the sightscreen, once again witnessed a masterclass as Abhishek tore into the DC attack, entertaining the crowd with fearless strokeplay.Freedom, planning and a special celebrationAbhishek credited the team environment for his growth, explaining how backing from leadership has allowed him to flourish. “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 approach, he added: “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.”He also explained his celebrations, including the popular ‘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.” Speaking about his newer celebration, he noted it marked his rare feat of batting till the 20th over.Abhishek dedicated his innings to his family, especially his sister who missed the match due to illness. His stunning knock, backed by contributions from teammates, helped SRH post 242/2 and seal a comprehensive 47-run win.
