How about win the toss, opt to bat and score 245 runs. You win, right? Not anymore. Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer would be thinking that all night after losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad despite setting a target of 246. It was an Abhishek Sharma storm that blew his team away. And at the end of the match, Iyer could do nothing but laugh at what transpired at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
“I think it was a fantastic total, to be honest. Still making me laugh that SRH chased it with 2 overs to spare. Abhishek’s knock was one of the best I have seen,” Shreyas Iyer said at the post-match presentation.
𝘼 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚-𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙏𝙊𝙉
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2025
A stunning maiden #TATAIPL century from Abhishek Sharma keeps #SRH onin this chase
Updateshttps://t.co/RTe7RlXDRq#TATAIPL | #SRHvPBKS | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/ANgdm1n86w
Lucky Abhishek Sharma
Shreyas Iyer hammered 36-ball 86, laced with six fours and as many sixes. But his great batting was completely overshadowed by Abhishek Sharma. The youngster hammered 141, the highest by an Indian in IPL history, off just 55 deliveries. Chasing a target of 246, Sunrisers Hyderabad openers posted 171/0 in 12.1 overs, taking the match away from PBKS. His knock helped SRH chase down the target with 10 balls to spare.
However, they were helped by sloppy fielding, poor catching and equally bad bowling. Travis Head was dropped when he was on 10. PBKS missed a chance to dismiss Abhishek when he was on 28 as Yash Thakur’s delivery ended up being a no-ball. Iyer admitted that the bowling and fielding units made poor efforts.
“We could have taken a few catches, but Abhishek was lucky. He was exceptional. The opening partnership (between Abhishek and Head) was phenomenal, they didn’t give us too many opportunities to capitalize on. In a nutshell, we didn’t bowl to our expectations, we have to go to the drawing board and make amends. The over-rotation could have been better from our side,” Shreyas Iyer admitted.
Second highest successful run-chase in the #TATAIPL
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2025
Runs galore, records broken and Hyderabad rises to a run-chase that will be remembered for the ages
Take a bow, @SunRisers
Scorecard
No time to think
However, Punjab Kings have no time to sulk over the defeat. They head back home to Mullanpur, where they have won just once in their last six matches. They will face Kolkata Knight Riders who are on a high after the win against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. Furthermore, Lockie Ferguson’s injury will complicate situations for PBKS.
Ferguson had to be withdrawn after bowling just three deliveries. He held his left quad as he walked back to the dugout in pain. With five wickets in IPL 2025, the Kiwi pacer has been a key bowler for Punjab. Now, they will have to rethink their strategies.
“It was a big impact. He is someone who can get you instant wickets. That was a big blow. He is someone who clicks 140 at all times and niggles happen. Other bowlers are also there to win matches,” Iyer said.
Punjab Kings are sixth on the IPL Points Table with six points from five matches.
