Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head (Image credit: SRH/IPL)
New Delhi: Sunrisers Hyderabad’s explosive opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head turned the Powerplay into a run-fest, as they dismantled the Punjab Kings attack in their IPL 2026 clash at Mullanpur on Saturday.From the beginning, the intent was crystal clear: to attack, control and destabilize. After a relatively cautious start that saw SRH reach 20 without losing in two rounds, the pair changed course dramatically. Abhishek led the charge, dismantling Arshdeep Singh in a brutal battle that included two fours and two sixes, instantly swinging the momentum in SRH’s favour.
He watches
How Justin Langer’s faith helped Mukul Choudhary shine
What followed was pure massacre.SRH raced to 50 in just 3.4 overs, scoring at a staggering rate of over 13 runs every over – well above the usual Powerplay standard.
Abhishek soon produced a sensational half-century off just 18 balls, embellished with four towering fours. He particularly targeted Vijaykumar Vyshak, hitting 24 runs in one over, including four sixes.
At the other end, Head played the perfect role, maintaining the tempo and making sure there was no respite for the bowlers. The highlight of the Powerplay came when he smashed a hat-trick of boundaries off Xavier Bartlett, taking SRH past the 100-run mark inside six overs.
By the end of the Powerplay, SRH had risen to a staggering figure of 105 without loss – almost double what teams usually aim for at this stage.This was the third time that SRH crossed the 100-run mark in the Powerplay – the most by a team in IPL history. No other party has been able to achieve this more than once, which confirms the rarity of this achievement.
Their previous instances include 125/0 against Delhi Capitals and 107/0 against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024.
The only other teams to have cracked the mark even once are Kolkata Knight Riders (105/0 in 2017) and Chennai Super Kings (100/2 in 2014).Abhishek also etched his name in the record books, equaling the record for most sixes in a Powerplay in an IPL innings with seven – joining elite names like Sanath Jayasuriya, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow.
reconnaissance
Should Abhishek Sharma be considered one of the best Powerplay batsmen in IPL history?
Over 100 scores in Overs 1-6 in IPL125/0 – SRH vs DC, Delhi, 2024107/0 – SRH vs LSG, Hyderabad, 2024105/0 – SRH vs BBKS, Mullanpur, 2026105/0 – KKR v RCB, Bengaluru, 2017100/2 – CSK v. BBKS, Mumbai WS, 2014Most Sixes in Overs 1-6 in IPL Inn7 – Sanath Jayasuriya (MI) vs. CSK, Mumbai, 20087 – Jos Buttler (RR) vs DC, Delhi, 2018 (match shortened due to rain)7 – Jonny Bairstow (PBKS) vs RCB, Brabourne, 20227-Abhishek Sharma (SRH) v. BBKS, Mullanpur, 2026
