Yuvraj Singh and Abhishek Sharma (Screengrab/X) Abhishek Sharma registered his ninth T20 century and his second highest score in the IPL while also completing the full 20 overs for the first time in his IPL career. His brilliant unbeaten 135 powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a massive total of 242, which the team successfully defended to seal a 47-run win over Delhi Capitals. After the knock, his mentor Yuvraj Singh praised his protégé, saying, “Let the bat do the work!”Sunrisers Hyderabad continued their strong run in IPL 2026 with a 47-run win over Delhi Capitals, powered by a sensational unbeaten 135 from Abhishek Sharma. His 68-ball knock with 10 fours and 10 sixes took SRH to a massive 242/2 with support from Travis Head (37) and Heinrich Klaasen (37* off 13).In response, Delhi Capitals showed early promise through the partnership between KL Rahul (37) and Nitish Rana (57) but lost steam after their dismissal. Eshan Malinga bowled and took 4/32, including two wickets in two balls, as DC were restricted to 195/9.The win moved SRH to third place while DC slipped to fifth in the standings.Reflecting on his innings, Abhishek said the team had a clear plan to attack the power play but had to quickly reassess the conditions. “As we started, I felt we had a plan … but the wicket was a bit slow so we had to re-plan. I just wanted to use the power play and entertain the crowd,” he said, adding that it wasn’t easy to judge par scores until the innings progressed.The left-hander also appreciated the environment in SRH’s setup that allowed him to play freely. “You have to have support from the captain and the coach… that’s very important. The environment at Sunrisers in 2024 was a game-changer. It was like they wanted to bring up the youngsters,” he explained, pointing out that such freedom helped him express himself consistently.After his thunderous knock, he earned praise from his mentor Yuvraj Singh who wrote on X,“Let the bat do the work! Get better every day well played sir Abhishek! Keep up with the process,” Yuvraj SIngh, Abhishek’s mentor, wrote on X.Yuvraj Singh has mentored Abhishek Sharma since around 2019, with their partnership intensifying during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown through a structured training camp in Mohali. He put in place a long-term “four-year plan” to help Abhishek transition from a domestic player to an international-level performer.
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The mentorship has focused on improving technique, discipline, fitness and mental strength, with Yuvraj playing a key role in boosting Abhishek’s confidence during challenging phases. That leadership has paid off, reflected in Abhishek’s recent performances, including his stunning unbeaten 135 in IPL 2026.
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