Abhishek Sharma's Century: A Clash to Remember

Abhishek Sharma delivered an awe-inspiring performance with his maiden IPL century, smashing 100 runs in just 40 balls, leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to triumph over Punjab Kings. Notably, his inning is now the third-fastest century by an Indian in IPL history, surpassed only by Yusuf Pathan and Priyansh Arya. His extraordinary 171-run opening partnership with Travis Head paved the way for a critical win.

NEW DELHI: On Saturday, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s opener, Abhishek Sharma, dazzled the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium with his electrifying debut IPL century. Scoring an impressive 100 off mere 40 balls against Punjab Kings in their 2025 Indian Premier League match, the achievement marked him as the third-quickest Indian to reach a century in IPL games, following in the footsteps of Yusuf Pathan and Priyansh Arya. The all-time fastest century remains with Chris Gayle.

Abhishek’s century was made even more memorable by his special celebration. After achieving his milestone, he unveiled a note from his pocket declaring, “This one is for Orange Army,” dedicating his remarkable innings to the Sunrisers Hyderabad supporters. This heartfelt gesture quickly went viral and elicited ecstatic cheers from the home audience.

In pursuit of a monumental 246-run target set by Punjab Kings, Abhishek, who had been retained for ₹14 crore prior to the 2025 IPL mega auction, orchestrated a phenomenal 171-run opening partnership with Australian cricketer Travis Head, who scored 66 runs. This partnership has become the second-highest opening stand in the history of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Abhishek’s innings was marked by powerful and precise hitting, which set the tone for Hyderabad’s vital victory in a must-win match.