“On a flat pitch, he is just a bully,” said Faf du Plessis while praising the explosive batting of Abhishek Sharma after his sensational knock in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026.
Abhishek Sharma, who had struggled for form during the 2026 T20 World Cup, bounced back strongly after receiving backing from the Indian team management led by Gautam Gambhir. He played a match-winning half-century in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, helping India clinch their third T20 World Cup title.
Since then, the left-handed batter has carried his form into the IPL, delivering a breathtaking performance on April 21 against Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. He smashed an unbeaten 135 off just 68 balls, including 10 fours and 10 sixes, at a strike rate of 198.53, powering Sunrisers Hyderabad to a dominant 47-run victory.
Du Plessis, reacting to the innings, drew comparisons with legendary West Indies batter Chris Gayle, highlighting Abhishek’s dominance on batting-friendly surfaces.
“Unbelievable batsmanship. The power is back. On a night like that, you feel Abhishek Sharma is elite because there is nothing on offer. He is just a bully if it’s a good pitch… On a flat track, he is almost like Chris Gayle,” du Plessis said.
Former Australian captain Aaron Finch also praised Abhishek’s knock, calling his timing and power “ridiculous” for a batter not known for a strong physical build.
Abhishek’s innings helped Sunrisers Hyderabad post a massive 242/2, while Delhi Capitals were restricted to 195/9 despite a fighting effort.
