Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) explosive batters Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan roared with the bat right ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. However they did so playing against each other. During a Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pre-season practice match on March 21, Abhishek unleashed a spectacular assault, smashing 94 runs off just 42 balls. His explosive performance anchored the SRH 'A' total of 253/9 in 21 overs, signaling that he is quickly regaining the devastating form he displayed during his 21-ball half-century in the recent T20 World Cup 2026 final.
Abhishek Sharma runs riot with 42-ball 94
Abhishek wasn't the only one to find his rhythm during the high-scoring first innings. South African powerhouse Heinrich Klaasen contributed a solid 49 off 31 balls, while 23-year-old Salil Arora provided a glimpse of why the franchise invested Rs 1.50 crore in him during the mini-auction. Arora played a blistering cameo, racking up 47 runs from just 16 balls to further bolster the SRH 'A' score.
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In an interesting tactical twist, Abhishek also stepped out to bat for the SRH 'B' side during the second innings. However, his second stay at the crease was brief; after a quickfire 12 runs off four balls, he was dismissed by 24-year-old pacer Praful Hinge. Despite that early exit, his primary contribution of the day has set a high bar for the SRH top order as they finalize their preparations for the upcoming tournament.
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The uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Salil Arora has significantly bolstered his chances of breaking into the starting lineup for the season opener. His aggressive cameo during the practice match has placed him firmly in contention for a spot in the playing XI when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) travel to face the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.
On the bowling front, veteran left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat delivered a standout performance by claiming a five-wicket haul. While his figures of 5/48 in the first innings were somewhat expensive, his ability to provide crucial breakthroughs underscored his importance to the SRH attack. Unadkat’s experience will be vital for the franchise, especially as they look to find a consistent rhythm with the ball on high-scoring surfaces.
Ishan Kishan's explosive 25-ball 72
Meanwhile, during the SRH 'B' innings, stand-in captain Ishan Kishan made a major statement with a blistering 72 runs off just 25 deliveries. With regular skipper Pat Cummins expected to miss the initial phase of the tournament due to injury, the responsibility of leadership has fallen to Kishan in only his second year with the team. His explosive form at the top of the order suggests he is ready to lead from the front as the franchise enters a challenging title defense.