The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, on Saturday, witnessed a spectacle that will be etched in IPL history. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) explosive opener, Abhishek Sharma, delivered a breathtaking 141 off 55 balls, powering his team to a record-breaking eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a massive chase of 246. While his innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, it was his unique century celebration—pulling out a paper note from his pocket—that captured the imagination of fans and sparked widespread intrigue.
A knock for the ages: Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking hundred
Abhishek walked into the SRH vs PBKS clash under pressure. After a string of low scores in IPL 2025, with just 51 runs in his first five innings, the 24-year-old was desperate to prove his worth. Retained by SRH for INR 14 crore ahead of the mega auction, expectations were sky-high for the left-hander, who had shown flashes of brilliance in previous seasons. Against PBKS, he didn’t just silence his critics—he obliterated them.
Abhishek’s 141 included 14 fours and 10 sixes, struck at a blistering rate of 256.36. His maiden IPL century came off just 40 balls, making it the sixth-fastest in IPL history and the second-fastest for SRH, behind Travis Head’s 39-ball ton in 2024. Partnering with Head (66 off 37), Abhishek forged a 171-run opening stand, laying the foundation for SRH’s successful chase of PBKS’s imposing 245/6.
Despite a no-ball reprieve early in his innings at 28, Abhishek made PBKS pay, breaking records left and right. His 141 surpassed David Warner’s 126 as SRH’s highest individual score and KL Rahul’s 132 as the highest by an Indian in IPL history. It also marked the highest score in an IPL chase, eclipsing Marcus Stoinis’s 124* from 2024.
Also READ: Fans erupt as Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head lead SRH to second-highest run chase in stunning win over PBKS in IPL 2025
The paper note celebration: A message from the heart
As Abhishek reached his century, the Uppal crowd erupted. Raising his bat and removing his helmet, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small paper note, holding it aloft for all to see. The note read, “This one is for the Orange Army”—a heartfelt tribute to SRH’s passionate fanbase. The gesture sparked a frenzy on social media and left commentators and teammates buzzing.
Here is the video:
𝘼 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚-𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙏𝙊𝙉 💯
A stunning maiden #TATAIPL century from Abhishek Sharma keeps #SRH on 🔝 in this chase 💪
Updates ▶ https://t.co/RTe7RlXDRq#TATAIPL | #SRHvPBKS | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/ANgdm1n86w
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2025
