Kamal Ghorui
Abhishek Sharma registered his ninth T20 century and his second-highest score in the IPL, while also batting through the full 20 overs for the first time in his IPL career. His brilliant unbeaten 135 powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a massive total of 242, which the team successfully defended, sealing a 47-run win over Delhi Capitals. Following the knock, his mentor Yuvraj Singh heaped praise on his protégé, saying, “Let the bat do the work!”Sunrisers Hyderabad continued their strong run in IPL 2026 with a 47-run win over Delhi Capitals, powered by a sensational unbeaten 135 from Abhishek Sharma. His 68-ball knock, featuring 10 fours and 10 sixes, guided SRH to a massive 242/2, with support from Travis Head (37) and Heinrich Klaasen (37* off 13).In response, Delhi Capitals showed early promise through a partnership between KL Rahul (37) and Nitish Rana (57), but lost momentum after their dismissals. Eshan Malinga starred with the ball, picking up 4/32, including two wickets in two balls, as DC were restricted to 195/9.The win pushed SRH to third place, while DC slipped to fifth in the standings.Reflecting on his innings, Abhishek said the team had a clear plan to attack the powerplay but had to quickly reassess conditions. “The way we started, I felt we had a plan… but the wicket was a bit slow, so we had to re-plan it again. I just wanted to utilise the powerplay and entertain the crowd,” he said, adding that judging a par score wasn’t easy until the innings progressed.The left-hander also credited the environment within the SRH setup for allowing him to play freely. “You have to have the backing from the captain and coach… that is very important. The environment in Sunrisers in 2024 was a game-changer. It felt like they wanted to grow the youngsters,” he explained, pointing out that such freedom has helped him express himself consistently.After his blistering knock he earned some praised from his mentor Yuvraj Singh, who wrote on X,“Let the bat do the work! getting better each day well played sir Abhishek! keep up with the process,” Yuvraj SIngh, Abhishek’s mentor, wrote on X.Yuvraj Singh has been mentoring Abhishek Sharma since around 2019, with their partnership intensifying during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown through a structured training camp in Mohali. He implemented a long-term “four-year plan” to help Abhishek transition from a domestic player to an international-level performer.The mentorship has focused on improving technique, discipline, fitness, and mental strength, with Yuvraj playing a key role in boosting Abhishek’s confidence during challenging phases. This guidance has paid off, reflected in Abhishek’s recent performances, including his stunning unbeaten 135 in IPL 2026.
