Former South African captain Faf du Plessis made a massive statement on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) first match Abhishek Sharma during IPL 2026. After his impressive performance against Delhi Capitals (DC), du Plessis compared the aggressive left-handed batsman to West Indies legend Chris Gayle, especially on flat deliveries.
Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Delhi Capitals by 47 runs in match 31 of IPL 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday, April 21. After losing the toss, the Ishan Kishan-led team posted a total of 242 runs in 20 overs. They then restricted Delhi Capitals to 195 runs, securing their fourth win.
Faf du Plessis compares Abhishek Sharma to Chris Gayle
During a recent discussion about ESPNcricinfo’s wait time, Faf du Plessis stated that Abhishek Sharma dominates the opposition bowlers and becomes extremely dangerous when the pitches offer no help to the bowlers.
“Amazing hitting. The power is back. Plus, you look at the second swing and I thought, ‘The pitch looked amazing.’ It just skidded, no swing, no grip.”
“So on a night like that is when you feel Abhishek Sharma is elite because there is nothing to offer. He is just a bruiser if it is a good pitch. And that is what that opening pair has done for the last 2-3 seasons. On a flat track, he is almost like Chris Gayle. He is that dangerous while batting.”
Abhishek dominated the Delhi Capitals bowling attack and remained unbeaten on 135 runs off 68 deliveries. The explosive Sunrise Hyderabad The opener smashed 10 boundaries and 10 sixes. He also shared a crucial 97-run opening partnership with Travis Head, who made just 53 deliveries.
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Abhishek Sharma is not Chris Gayle Build – Aaron Finch
Former Australian captain Aaron Finch also praised Abhishek Sharma for his brilliant century. Finch stated that Sharma has the ability to manipulate pitch placement and generate immense power in his shots, unlike traditional power hitters.
“His ability to cut the ball regardless of how you place the field on the opposite side [is amazing]. He has beautiful hands and an almost laconic swing that allows him to manipulate the ball wherever he wants. The power is ridiculous for a guy who isn’t a brute. He doesn’t have the build of Chris Gayle. I love seeing it.”
Abhishek has shown excellent consistency for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026. He has scored 323 runs in seven innings at an average of 53.83 and a strike rate of 215.33, including two half-centuries and a century.
Sunrisers Hyderabad achieve their third consecutive victory
Abhishek Sharma’s brilliant century put Sunrisers Hyderabad in a strong position. The home team still posted a massive total of 242 against Delhi Capitals. Axar Patel picked up one wicket for 23 runs.
Capitals of Delhi He made a great effort in the chase. Nitish Rana scored 57 runs off 30 balls, while Sameer Rizvi added 41 off 28 deliveries. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Eshan Malinga turned the game around with an impressive four-wicket haul.
After a 47-run win, Sunrisers Hyderabad jumped to third place in the IPL points table, with four wins in seven matches. Delhi Capitals are in fifth position, having won three of their six matches so far.
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