admin 
[CRK]
Abhishek Sharma scored the fourth century of IPL 2026, following Sanju Samson, Quinton de Kock and Tilak Varma to the milestone, and Eshan Malinga picked up 4 for 32, prompting movement on both the Orange Cap and Purple Cap tables, as Sunrisers Hyderabad thumped Delhi Capitals on Tuesday night.
Abhishek Sharma Claims Orange Cap with Historic Century
In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, Abhishek Sharma not only toppled Delhi Capitals but also the IPL record books, slamming his maiden IPL century and the fourth of the 2026 season. Remaining unbeaten for the full 20 overs—a first in his T20 career—Abhishek powered Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to a colossal 242 for 2, the second-highest total of the season.
His explosive 135 off just 68 balls included 12 fours and 9 sixes, placing it as the fifth-highest individual score in IPL history. With a staggering strike rate of 198.53 in this knock, Abhishek pushed his season tally to 323 runs in seven innings at an astonishing overall strike rate of 215.33, officially seizing the Orange Cap.
This was also Abhishek’s ninth T20 century—a new benchmark among Indian batters, tying him with Virat Kohli for the most hundreds in T20s by an Indian player.
Team Effort Boosts SRH’s Playoff Hopes
Abhishek wasn’t alone in the carnage. Heinrich Klaasen, fresh off a quiet patch, blazed 37 not out off 13 balls in a 66-run stand that devoured just 32 deliveries. That late surge—fueled by sixes and free-flowing boundaries—lifted SRH into joint-second place on the points table, tightening their grip on a potential playoff berth.
Other top performers on the Orange Cap list include:
- Shubman Gill (GT): 265 runs in 5 innings
- Virat Kohli (RCB): 258 runs at 156.36 SR
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR): 247 runs, rising star
Completing the top ten are Ishan Kishan, Rajat Patidar, Cooper Connolly, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Priyansh Arya, though all now trail Abhishek by a significant margin.
Malinga Surges on Purple Cap Chart with 4-Wicket Haul
While Abhishek dazzled with the bat, Eshan Malinga delivered with the ball, claiming 4 wickets for 32 runs and catapulting himself into contention for the Purple Cap. His third T20 four-wicket haul came at a crucial stage, dismantling Delhi’s middle order and halting any hope of a chase.
Malinga now has 12 wickets in the season at an average of 18.08 and an economy of 9.43, tying him with Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans for second-most dismissals. However, Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings still leads the pack with 13 wickets and retains the Purple Cap for now.
Other bowlers making waves:
- Prince Yadav (LSG): 10 wickets (uncapped sensation)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB): 10 wickets, swing revival
- Kagiso Rabada (GT), Ravi Bishnoi (RR): 10 each
Key Stats Leaders of IPL 2026
Beyond the Orange and Purple Caps, several metrics highlight the game’s elite performers:
Highest Batting Strike Rates (Min. 150 runs)
- Abhishek Sharma (SRH) – 215.33
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) – 188.76
- Heinrich Klaasen (SRH) – 182.41
Most Sixes
- Abhishek Sharma – 28
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – 24
- Shubman Gill – 22
Best Economy Rates (Min. 10 overs bowled)
- Ravi Bishnoi (RR) – 7.21
- Prasidh Krishna (GT) – 7.85
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB) – 8.01
Best Bowling Strike Rates
- Anshul Kamboj (CSK) – 12.1 balls per wicket
- Eshan Malinga (SRH) – 12.4
- Kagiso Rabada (GT) – 13.6
With momentum building, Sunrisers Hyderabad look increasingly like title contenders, powered by a new generation of stars. Abhishek’s consistency and Malinga’s rising threat could define the rest of IPL 2026.
Leave a Reply