Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) finally snapped their four-match losing streak in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with a commanding eight-wicket win against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, April 12.
The victory, powered by a record-breaking 141 off 55 balls by Abhishek Sharma, marked SRH’s most convincing performance of the season and provided a much-needed boost to the 2016 champions.
Chasing a daunting 246 set by PBKS, SRH showcased their batting prowess, with openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head (66 off 37) forging a blistering 189-run partnership. Abhishek’s knock, studded with 14 fours and 10 sixes, not only sealed the chase in just 17.4 overs but also etched his name in history as the highest individual score by an Indian in the IPL, surpassing KL Rahul’s 132 not out. Heinrich Klaasen (4 not out) hit the winning runs, ensuring SRH’s triumph with 14 balls to spare.
Earlier, PBKS posted 245/6, driven by Shreyas Iyer’s explosive 82 off 36 balls and Marcus Stoinis’ late onslaught of four consecutive sixes off Mohammed Shami, who endured a forgettable day, conceding 75 runs without a wicket. SRH captain Pat Cummins (2/45) and Adam Zampa (2/38) were the pick of the bowlers, but the target seemed formidable until Abhishek’s heroics turned the game on its head.
“It’s a massive relief to get back to winning ways,” said Cummins post-match. “Abhishek was phenomenal, and the way he and Travis set the tone made it look easy. We’ve been playing good cricket but weren’t closing games, so this feels great.”
The SRH skipper also praised the team’s calculated aggression, a hallmark of their revamped identity under coach Daniel Vettori. The win propelled SRH up the IPL 2025 points table, reigniting hopes of a playoff push after a string of frustrating losses, including a recent seven-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans. Fans, who had grown restless after SRH’s early-season struggles, erupted in celebration, with social media buzzing over Abhishek’s record knock.