
On Sunday, Abhishek Sharma from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) was another example to the young breed of IPL players by entering into the annals of IPL history. It was in the last league stage match of his team against Punjab Kings (PBKS) that Sharma surpassed Virat Kohli ‘s record of most sixes scored by an Indian player in that IPL season.
Sharma’s Power-Packed Knock
Having scored 215 for the loss of five while bowling, PBKS, SRH want to give themselves the best chance of being in the game early on. Come, Abhishek Sharma grabbing the bowling scalps with both hands. The left-handed batsman showed his carnage in the last over of the powerplay against Rishi Dhawan by absolutely thrashing the ball for a six over the long on. This massive over got more than SRH’s chase underway but also heralded a significant record for Sharma.
The opener’s breakthrough came in the sixth over of the SRH’s pursuit. As the situation demands, Sharma went on the rampage, especially against Rishi Dhawan, in order to force the pace for his team. He then hit a delivery which landed and went deep over the long-on for a maximum. This mighty hit not only gave him crucial runs on the board but also took his tally of sixes in the season to 39 while continuing the previous record holder Virat Kohli’s 38 sixes in the Indian Premier League for 2016.
Breaking Kohli’s Record
That six took Sharma’s six hitting total to 39 in the 2024 IPL campaign, which was a record-high for any player, going past the tally of Virat Kohli. Kohli, interestingly, had achieved this feat in 2016 while serving the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), which found him scoring as many as 38 sixes en route a monumental total of 973 in the tournament.
Talking to the media after a successful day, Sharma said it was a dream of his to break the record and he hopes to continue in the same vein in the future matches. He is 22-year-old cricketer,quite exceptional this year for the Sunrisers Hyderabad which is quite beneficial to the team especially due to his ability to produce explosive innings at the top of the order. He steps up a gear to beat the PPPs with consummate ease and brings a new look to SRH’s batting department.
Stepped Up From Big Hits
This is where one must realize that Sharma’s participation is a lot more than five and half six-hitting. In batting, the player has a balanced approach and has been seen to possess the ability to hit big shots while maintaining proper form. Hence, the ability to control and manage his bowling in terms of overs, coupled with the ability to vary his approach according to the context of the game is a massive plus for SRH.
Looking Ahead
As the playoffs approach, it will be very important for SRH to have Sharma back in full swing with the bat and that indeed will possible make the latter a title contender. He can run the full press, continuously forwards, for a considerable length directly from the start, and this prepares the team for a vigorous environment in the kick-off round. The cricketing fraternity will be waiting to see if Sharma will again replicate what he has made for SRH to make it to the desired IPL outcome.