Abhishek Sharma’s parents watched the match at the stadium. NEW DELHI: Abhishek Sharma had a night to remember in IPL 2026 as he smashed an unbeaten 135 to power Sunrisers Hyderabad to a dominant win over Delhi Capitals – but it was his emotional and humorous post-match tribute to his father that really touched hearts.After his breathtaking knock, Abhishek made a special request to the announcer, saying, “And next time I want one of the cameras to just go to him and see his reactions. It’s going to be really fun. And it’s actually incredible how I keep looking at him and he keeps looking at me and giving me instructions. So that helps me a little bit too. And of course it’s always good to perform in front of my parents and friends.”
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The Ashok Sharma Story: Inside the Village and House That Shaped India’s New Pace SensationREAD ALSO: IPL 2026 Orange Cap race: Abhishek Sharma beats Heinrich Klaasen to claim the top spot‘He guided me from U-12 days’The SRH opener revealed that his father has been a constant presence throughout his journey. “To be very honest, I don’t know how since the U12 days, my dad is always sitting next to the screen and in Hyderabad too, he’s always there. And whenever I’m just on the non-striker side, he always tells me how to play. So it’s still going on,” Abhishek said, highlighting the unique bond that continues to shape his game.His father, seated near the screen, once again witnessed a master class as Abhishek burst into the DC attack and entertained the crowd with a fearless move game.Freedom, planning and a special celebrationCrediting the team environment for his growth, Abhishek explained how support from management allowed him to flourish. “You have to have support from the captain and the coach… the environment we had at Sunrisers in 2024 was a game changer,” he said.On his approach, he added: “When we started, I felt we had a plan… it was a bit slow so we had to reschedule… I just wanted to entertain the crowd.”He also explained his celebrations, including the popular ‘L’ gesture: “I’ve been doing this L celebration for quite a while. It’s just the love for the stadium, the way they support us throughout the tournament and all the matches, even in the hotel. I just want to do my bit. I want to show them some love.” Speaking about his more recent celebration, he noted that it marked his rare batting until 20.Abhishek dedicated his innings to his family, especially his sister who missed the match due to illness. His stunning knock, aided by contributions from teammates, helped SRH post 242/2 to seal a comprehensive 47-run win.
