The 23-year-old left-hander smashed 141 off just 55 balls on Saturday night, helping SRH pull off a massive chase of 246 runs against Punjab Kings. The win, sealed with 9 balls to spare, marked the second-highest successful chase in IPL history and snapped SRH’s four-match losing streak.
Coming into the match under pressure, Abhishek went all guns blazing. His clean hitting and fearless intent lit up the stadium—and lifted his team from the bottom of the points table.
But the most talked-about moment came after he reached his hundred. Abhishek pulled a note out of his pocket that read, “This one is for Orange Army.” Turns out, he had been carrying it since the start of the season, waiting for the right moment. That detail came from his opening partner Travis Head, who said after the game, “The note has been in Abhishek’s pocket for 6 games. Glad it came out tonight.”
Abhishek’s innings wasn’t just about runs—it was about timing. He admitted the team never spoke about the losing streak, but it weighed on everyone. “This one is very special. Losing four in a row was tough. But we stayed calm,” he said.
He also credited his turnaround to messages of support from Yuvraj Singh and Suryakumar Yadav, and said having his parents in the stands added extra motivation. “My whole team was waiting for my parents. They’ve been lucky for SRH.”
On the pitch, Abhishek made full use of the batting-friendly wicket. “I don’t usually play behind the wicket, but I tried a few new shots today. It was just natural play between me and Travis,” he said of the 167-run opening stand.
SRH skipper Pat Cummins praised both Abhishek and the pitch—though he admitted it left little room for his bowlers. “Slower balls weren’t really working, it was a good batting track. But yeah, I’m a big fan of Abhi,” he said.
SRH’s dominant win now puts them back in the playoff conversation—and it’s clear their opener is back in business.
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