IPL 2026: SRH ride on Abhishek Sharma 135 to set 243-run target for DC

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New Delhi: Abhishek Sharma scored his second IPL century to propel Sunrisers Hyderabad to a mammoth total of 242 for 2 in 20 overs in Match 31 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against the Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. Abhishek blazed his way to 135 not out off 68 balls to put SRH in the ascendancy after DC skipper Axar Patel invited the hosts to bat first.

Abhishek carried the bat but missed out by six runs from his highest IPL score of 141 runs.

Abhishek and Travis Head (37) stitched a 97-run stand off 53 balls for the opening wicket and gave SRH a flying start in perfect batting conditions.

The left-handed batter raced to his half-century off 25 balls, after putting the foot on the accelerator after Head’s dismissal in the ninth over, which came against the run of play.

Abhishek completes 47-ball ton to etch his name in history books

Abhishek unleashed mayhem on the DC bowler and forged another rapid half-century stand (79 off 35) with skipper Ishan Kishan and brought up his century in just 47 balls.

There was no stopping the explosive Punjab batter who continued the incredible onslaught against the DC bowlers. He put on another blazing half-century partnership with Heinrich Klassen (37 off 13 balls) to give the home side the perfect finish.

Records galore for Abhishek

Abhishek became the third batter after Sanju Samson and Quinton de Kock to score a century this season and registered the highest individual score in IPL 2026

The prolific left-hander hit 10 sixes in an IPL innings for the second time in his career and became the second batter to do so multiple times after Gayle’s four

With his ninth century in the 20-over format, Abhishek also equalled legendary batter Virat Kohli’s record for most tons by an Indian in T20 cricket. Abhishek has scored two tons in the IPL, two for India in T20Is and six in domestic T20 cricket.

Skipper Axar Patel was the lone wicket-taker for DC, with the second wicket coming through a run-out.