After some disappointing performances and a string of low scores in this year’s Ranji Trophy, Abhishek Sharma was shown the exit gate by Punjab.
Abhishek reached Delhi and featured in a local tourney during his time away from the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier red-ball competition. In one of the games, he vented his frustration with a blazing innings – a 15-ball 49* – that included five sixes at Khalsa College.
He duly returned to the Punjab squad following this blistering innings.
Fast-forward two months to IPL 2024 and Abhishek has become an integral part of the monstrous Sunrisers Hyderabad batting line-up as carrying the momentum he got from that Khalsa College innings. The left-handed batter has played a crucial role in SRH’s success so far with some fine display of batting and stroke play.
“I had a very clear mindset before this IPL. I was very much clear with my batting style. It’s going really good and executing it well,” Abhishek told reporters after SRH humbled Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in an IPL 2024 clash on Saturday night.
Alongside Abhishek, SRH have also added the power of Australian Travis Head to their batting line-up this season and together, the duo has been unleashing hell on the hapless bowlers.
The script wasn’t different against DC.
Being good hosts, DC invited SRH to bat first after winning the toss. However, what transpired next was just carnage from both Head and Abhishek.
The duo re-wrote record books as they posted 125/0 in the first six overs, and SRH reached 158/4 at the halfway stage of their innings on the back of that power play. Both these totals are highest ever in the history of IPL after six and 10 overs respectively.
The stand was decorated with clean striking of the ball and eventually the pair ended up adding 131 runs for the first wicket.
While Abhishek scored 46 off 21, Head struck 89 off 32 as SRH posted a gigantic 266/7 in 20 overs.
While the batting partners are making merry on the field, their partnership is also blooming off the field, reveals Abhishek.
“It’s always joyful to watch Travis (Head) bat and we have been talking a lot off the field and I feel that has been helping. He is someone who I’m looking forward to bat with throughout the season. I admire Travis a lot in all three formats and luckily he is in our side,” Abhishek said.
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‘Message is clear from coach & captain’
Not just Abhishek or Head, the entire SRH batting unit has been on a roll in this edition of the IPL as at least one or two of the top five have stepped up as and when required. They have set themselves on a record-breaking spree, and with each game, they continue to reach new heights.
According to Abhishek, the message from the coach and the skipper to the batting unit is quite clear.
“It was pretty easy message from coach and the captain. They were pretty clear with their message that just go and express yourself. That’s very simple and powerful message coming from the coach or the captain.
As a top order batter, you just have to get that kind of confidence from the captain and the coach. We got that from Day 1,” the allrounder said.
The results of that message and the batters’ execution is very clearly visible.
Ahead of the IPL 2024, RCB’s total of 263 from 2013 was the highest team total ever. After 35 games this season, that total has been pushed to number five.
SRH are the prime reason behind this shift as their 266 against DC was only their third highest and fourth-highest overall for this season.
Despite Henrich Klaasen (15 off 8) and Aiden Markram (1 off 3) not making significant contributions at Kotla, the score on the board was massive.
Batting against Kuldeep
Kuldeep Yadav has been among wickets in IPL 2024. The left-arm spinner already had six wickets from four matches prior to the Saturday night clash and ended up getting a four-fer against SRH to add to his tally.
While Kuldeep did pick four wickets, he also faced the wrath of openers, conceding 55 runs. In fact, in the 5th over of the SRH innings, Abhishek struck the bowler for three sixes and added another one to his tally at the start of 7th over as well.
Kuldeep, however, eventually got the better of southpaw, but it was too late.
Abhishek explained his strategy of negotiating Kuldeep’s threat.
“Personally, I always try to plan really well for the spinners and the main bowlers of the team. This match also, I was very careful with Kuldeep because I know he has been their main bowler. I have been watching his videos. I try to play similar kind of bowlers during practice sessions,” he said.
SRH have had a brilliant run so far in the IPL 2024 and have now moved to the second position on the points table. With a better half of the league still left to be played, they have become a force to reckon with this season.
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