Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins lauded teammate Abhishek Sharma for his outstanding batting in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Sharma’s aggressive style has been pivotal for SRH, including a key performance in their four-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, May 19.

Chasing a target of 215, Sharma smashed 66 off 28 balls, hitting five boundaries and six sixes. His efforts helped SRH secure the victory with five balls remaining, moving them to second place on the IPL 2024 points table.

Post-match, Cummins praised Abhishek’s abilities, noting he wouldn’t want to bowl to the left-hander himself. “It’s incredible. We’ve won 6 out of 7 here, and it’s been fantastic. I didn’t know many guys coming into this season, but we’ve played excellent cricket and had a lot of fun,” Cummins said. He added, “Abhishek is phenomenal. I wouldn’t want to bowl to him; he’s intimidating. Nitish is also a superb player, mature beyond his years, perfect for the top-order. It’s very satisfying. I haven’t played in finals before, and I’m excited about what’s ahead.”

Abhishek Sharma has been a standout performer for SRH, forming a formidable opening partnership with Travis Head. In the current season, the 23-year-old has scored 467 runs in 13 innings, with an average of 38.92 and a strike rate of 209.41, including three half-centuries.

Reflecting on the win over PBKS, Abhishek said, “Every batsman has their time, and I felt it was mine to contribute to the team. From the first ball, my intent was to attack because we had a big target. The hard work I put in before this season is paying off. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, I focused on being aggressive, and it’s working well for me now.”

Abhishek also expressed gratitude towards former SRH coach Brian Lara, the fans, and the pitch curator at Uppal Stadium. “Brian Lara was our coach last year, and I’ve continued to learn from him. I wait for the right deliveries and ensure I put pressure on the bowlers. I also want to thank the crowd and the pitch curator for providing conditions that suit our play,” he added.