Abhishek Sharma scores 50 off just 18 balls against PBKS in IPL 2026

April 11, 2026: Abhishek Sharma played a brilliant innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring a fast half-century off just 18 balls against Punjab Kings in IPL 2026. His aggressive batting gave SRH a strong start and put pressure on the bowlers early in the match.

He came in with a clear attacking mindset and started hitting boundaries from the beginning. He played shots all around the ground and handled both fast bowlers and spinners with ease. His clean hitting and good timing helped him score quickly and dominate the game.

He reached his fifty in just 18 balls, one of the fastest of the season, and helped SRH take control of the match. His knock gave the team a strong base for a big total and shifted the momentum in their favour. PBKS bowlers struggled to stop him as he kept finding gaps and hitting big shots, especially during the powerplay.

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 💥

That's how Abhishek Sharma celebrated his 🔟th #TATAIPL FIFTY 👏👏@SunRisers 105/0 after the powerplay

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/DUNkQi9YaV#KhelBindaas | #PBKSvSRH | @OfficialAbhi04 pic.twitter.com/1c758V3tR5

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2026

Strong opening stand and powerplay dominance

Abhishek and Travis Head also built a strong opening partnership. The pair now have five 100-plus stands in the IPL, matching some of the best opening pairs in the league. Abhishek scored 66 runs in the first six overs and also hit seven sixes in the powerplay, which is among the highest in IPL history.

The innings ended in the ninth over when Shashank Singh took two wickets in one over, dismissing both Head and Abhishek. Head scored 38 off 23 balls, while Abhishek made 74 off 28 balls with eight sixes and five fours at a very high strike rate.

Overall, Abhishek’s innings was not just about runs but also about smart batting. He picked the right balls to hit and played with confidence. His performance helped Sunrisers Hyderabad take control of the match early.

Brief Scores: 

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 219/6 (Abhishek 74, Head 38, Klassen 39; Shashank 2/20)
Punjab Kings: 101/1 (after 7 overs) (Priyansh 57)
(Scorecard at the time of writing this article)