Published: April 22, 2026 at 12:01 am
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s strength has always been its batting, especially the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. Delhi Capitals’ skipper Axar Patel won the toss and plunged headlong into the furnace by asking the hosts to bat first.
The hosts, who are not known to looking at the gift horse in its mouths, gleefully lapped up the offer and made Capitals pay heavily for it. Ironically, SRH skipper Ishan Kishan has lost all the seven tosses this season.
Sunrisers romped to a 47-run win at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday night. Sunrisers, in the process, notched up their fourth win, third consecutive victory, of the season to surge to the third position in the IPL 2026 table. Delhi have been pushed down to the fifth spot.
Opener Abhishek Sharma was the star for the hosts as he scored a 68-ball 135, his second IPL century, to power the hosts to a commanding 242 for two. Pics: BCCI
Opener Abhishek was the star for the hosts as he scored a 68-ball 135, his second IPL century, to power the hosts to a commanding 242 for two.
Capitals were in no frame of mind to chase down the target and were always in catch up mode. They ended up with 195 for nine with Ehsan Malinga again among the wickets.
https://x.com/SunRisers/status/2046626222386683965?s=20
The unstoppable Abhishek wielded his willow as a sledgehammer to pummel Capitals into complete submission. He struck 10 fours and an equal number over the fence as the Capitals had not answer to his pyrotechnics.
I enjoy playing for Hyderabad: Abhishek
“The way we started, we had a plan, we wanted to use the powerplay, but the wicket was a bit slow so we had to re-plan, we had match-ups in mind too. Wanted to use the powerplay as you don’t know what a par score is. I love playing here and want to entertain the crowd. Special mention to the team coaches and captain, we can just express ourselves. The environment we had at SRH from 2024 was a gamechanger for us, I always wanted to play like this, for Punjab as well. Playing for Hyderabad has always felt like that,” said Abhishek, who was named Player of the Match.
Heinrich Klaasen scored his 37 at a strike rate of 285
Abhishek shared a 97-run stand off 53 balls with Travis Head, who made a 26-ball 37. The southpaw then combined with skipper Ishan Kishan (25) and the duo added 79 for the second wicket off 35 balls as they built on the solid opening foundation.
Abhishek and Heinrich Klaasen then took the game away from the Capitals with a 66-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket off 32 balls. Klaasen remained unbeaten on 37 off 13 balls with three fours and three sixes. The South African scored his 37 at a strike rate of 285.
KL Rahul (37) and Nitish Rana (57) shared an 86-run partnership for the second wicket off 45 balls but it was never going to put any pressure on the host bowlers.
When I see the ball, one side is damage, I know reverse will come into the game, I try to reverse swing and get the wicket, said Eshan Malinga
Later Sameer Rizvi hit 41 but lack of support from the others did the Capitals no good. Malinga took four for 32 and Harsh Dubey finished with three for 12 in his two overs.
“We came with the same plan as the last game, as the ball gets older we get reverse, my mindset was also calm, to execute the plans. When I see the ball, one side is damage, I know reverse will come into the game, I try to reverse swing and get the wicket. Lasith Malinag worked with us in the last couple of months in Sri Lanka,” said Eshan Malinga.
Brief scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 242 for two in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 135, Travis Head 37, Ishan Kishan 25, Heinrich Klaasen 37) beat Delhi Capitals 195 for nine in 20 overs (KL Rahul 37, Nitish Rana 57, Sameer Rizvi 41, Tristan Stubbs 27; Eshan Malinga 4/32, Harsh Dubey 3/12).
