Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured a dominant 10-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their IPL 2024 encounter on Wednesday, May 8 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, thanks to a whirlwind display by openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head.
LSG posted a modest 165/4 batting first. While their start wasn't strong (66/4 after 12 overs), a late fightback led by Ayush Badoni (55*) and Nicholas Pooran (48*) salvaged a somewhat respectable total.
However, this proved to be no challenge for the SRH openers. Head and Abhishek tore apart the LSG bowling attack on a pitch that troubled their opponents earlier. They chased down the target in a record-breaking 9.4 overs, the highest total ever chased inside 10 overs in the IPL. Both batsmen displayed incredible aggression, with Head reaching his fifty in a mere 16 balls and Sharma following suit shortly after in 19 deliveries.
SRH openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, were unstoppable in their chase, mirroring each other's aggression shot for shot. Head anchored the innings with an unbeaten 89 off just 30 balls, peppered with eight fours and six sixes. Sharma wasn't far behind, blasting an unbeaten 75 off 28 deliveries, featuring the same number of boundaries and sixes.
Abhishek Sharma's consistent power-hitting has caught the eye of former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. Following the match, Harbhajan expressed his awe on X, praising both openers' performances. He even went a step further, suggesting that Sharma's red-hot form might warrant inclusion, at least as a reserve, in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
"What just happened in Hyderabad! Travishead & IamAbhiSharma4 hitting sixes like taking singles. Chased 165 in 9.4 overs. Should Team India include Abhishek in the bench strength?" wrote Harbhajan.
Abhishek Sharma has become a breakout star in IPL 2024, captivating audiences with his aggressive batting. His impressive performances have even sparked calls for him to open for Team India in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
In just 12 matches, Sharma has amassed a staggering 401 runs at a blistering strike rate of 205.64. This is particularly noteworthy as he's one of only two players alongside teammate Travis Head with a strike rate exceeding 200 among those who have scored more than 350 runs this season.
Sharma reigns supreme in the six-hitting department as well, leading the league with a staggering 35 sixes so far. This puts him three clear of his closest competitor, Sunil Narine.
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