Abhishek Sharma disclosed Sunrisers Hyderabad’s intention to set a record total during the 15th over of the IPL match against Mumbai Indians.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) all-rounder Abhishek Sharma shed light on the team’s mindset during their record-breaking innings against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 27th. Batting first after being put in by MI captain Hardik Pandya, SRH piled up a mammoth 277-3, surpassing the league’s highest total of 263 runs by a significant margin.
Sharma, alongside teammates Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen, all contributed half-centuries to the dominant batting display. The aggressive start saw SRH amass 81 runs in the powerplay, reaching the 150-run mark by the 11th over.
Speaking after the match, Sharma revealed the team’s growing confidence as the innings progressed. “Even we realized after 15 overs that we actually can make a record today. I had a lot of fun out there because I was batting with Travis Head, who has been one of my favourite batters in recent times. So, he is very clear about his thoughts, and he just told me to express myself,” Abhishek said in a post-match interaction.
Sharma came in at number three and played a blistering knock of his own, scoring 63 runs off just 23 balls. His inning was laced with three fours and a staggering seven over-boundaries.
However, Travis Head laid the path for the record-breaking score. The Australian opener, returning to the IPL after a seven-year absence, scored a blazing 62 runs off just 24 deliveries. Head and Sharma forged a crucial 68-run partnership off 22 balls, setting the tone for the onslaught to come.
Even Heinrich Klaasen, who emerged as the top scorer in the contest with his unbeaten 80 off 34 deliveries, quipped an interesting trivia about his powerful inning that led to rewriting history. “I think the big key was my afternoon nap just before the game. The wicket was fantastic, and rightly so, over 500 runs were scored quite easily,” said Klaasen.
Meanwhile, SRH is looking strong despite its loss in one of the two matches it played in the tournament. The Pat Cummins-led team will next face the Gujarat Titans on March 31st.
Last Updated on March 28, 2024
