If there was any doubt about Sunrisers Hyderabad’s intent this season, it’s time to put that to rest. Write it down — SRH are coming for the top spot in IPL 2026.
Before the tournament began, to me at least, this looked like a side capable of making the playoffs, despite the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins and the lack of a world-class spinner. A slightly wobbly start did little to inspire confidence, but over the past few matches, the pieces have begun to fall into place. Their latest win over Delhi Capitals has lifted them to third on the points table — and more importantly, signalled momentum at just the right time.
At the heart of this resurgence is Abhishek Sharma, who delivered a breath-taking 135 not out off 68 balls, an innings studded with 10 sixes. It wasn’t just a match-winning knock; it was a statement. The effort also propelled him to the Orange Cap, underlining his consistency in a format where volatility is the norm.
What makes Abhishek’s rise even more remarkable is the scale of his achievements. He now has two of the top five highest individual scores in IPL history, and this was his ninth T20 century — putting him level with Virat Kohli among Indian batters. And yet, despite these numbers, he continues to be labelled by many as a mere slogger.
That perception misses the essence of his game. Abhishek represents a high-risk, high-reward approach that few are willing to fully embrace. He is prepared to take on the first ball he faces, often looking to clear the boundary immediately. It’s a method that guarantees both spectacular success and frequent failure. His returns reflect that duality.
Consider his recent run: 7, 48, 0, 74, 0, 59, and now 135 not out. Or rewind to the T20 World Cup earlier this year — out first ball in the opening match, three ducks in his first three innings, and then the fastest fifty of the tournament to finish it. This is not inconsistency; this is volatility by design.
Abhishek does not play for milestones; he plays for impact. On his day, he can deliver a 15-ball fifty or maintain a strike rate of 200 across an innings. On other days, it may not come off at all. But his intent never wavers, and that clarity is invaluable to a team like SRH.
As the tournament progresses, SRH appear to be peaking at the right moment. And with Abhishek at the forefront, they are not just winning — they are entertaining, challenging conventions, and redefining what aggressive T20 batting can look like.
So sit back and watch. This could be the run that takes SRH all the way to the playoffs — and perhaps even beyond.
