IPL 2025 Match 27 SRH vs PBKS: Match Summary
What did it take to chase down a towering 246 runs in a high-stakes IPL match? Guts, skill, and a sprinkle of audacity. On a balmy evening at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) answered that question with a performance for the ages. Leading the charge was Abhishek Sharma, whose breathtaking 141 off 55 balls didn’t just secure an 8-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 27 of the TATA IPL 2025—it rewrote the record books. Let’s dive into how SRH turned a daunting target into a historic triumph, why Abhishek’s knock was the talk of the season, and what that meant for IPL 2025.
The Stage Was Set: A Mammoth Target
Picture this: Punjab Kings, having opted to bat first, came out swinging like they had something to prove. Their openers, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, wasted no time, smashing boundaries and sixes as if the outfield was their personal playground. Prabhsimran kicked things off with a hat-trick of fours off Mohammed Shami, while Arya, riding the high of a century in his last outing, greeted SRH skipper Pat Cummins with a towering six. By the third over, PBKS had raced to their fastest fifty-plus opening stand of the season—a blistering start that set the tone.
But SRH didn’t roll over. Harshal Patel struck, sending Arya back for a fiery 36 off 13 balls. Enter Shreyas Iyer, Punjab’s captain, who picked up where Arya left off. By leading PBKS to an overwhelming 89/1 at the end of the powerplay—one of their finest ever in IPL history—he and Prabhsimran kept the scoreboard moving. The momentum barely dipped as debutant Eshan Malinga removed Prabhsimran for a quick 42, but Shreyas found a new ally in Nehal Wadhera.
Shreyas Iyer’s Blazing Fifty
Shreyas, known for his cool-headed leadership, showed he was just as lethal with the bat. He raced to a 22-ball fifty—his fastest in the IPL—mixing elegant drives with brute force. Wadhera complemented him, rotating the strike and chipping in with boundaries. Just when it seemed PBKS might run away with the game, SRH fought back. Eshan’s pinpoint yorker dismissed Wadhera for 27, and Harshal sent Shashank Singh packing. Undeterred, Shreyas answered with an abundance of boundaries, leading the innings with an incredible 82 off 36 balls before being dismissed by Harshal.
The final flourish came from Marcus Stoinis, who took Shami to the cleaners in the last over, smashing four sixes to finish unbeaten on 34 off 11. Punjab’s total? A colossal 245/6. Harshal ended with a hard-earned 4/42, but the damage was done—or so it seemed. Chasing 246 was no small feat. Will SRH pull off the most successful run-chase in IPL history?
Abhishek Sharma’s Record-Breaking IPL 2025 Century
The starting pair for SRH, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, have a point to prove. From the first ball, it was clear they weren’t there to mess around. The pair—affectionately dubbed ‘Travi-Shek’ by fans—tore into the PBKS attack like a storm hitting the shore. They brought up a 50-run stand in just three overs, the fastest SRH opening partnership of the season. A heart-stopping moment arrived when Abhishek edged one to third man off Yash Thakur, but fate intervened—it was a no-ball. Cue the carnage.
Abhishek went into overdrive as SRH finished the powerplay with 83/0. In just 16 balls, he reached his fifty, which was the fastest ever for an SRH batter. Travis Head, playing the perfect wingman, wasn’t far behind, hammering two massive sixes off Glenn Maxwell to notch his second fifty of the season. They reached the highest IPL 2025 partnership of 171 before Head was caught off Chahal’s bowling after a brilliant 66 off 37.
A Century for the Ages
Abhishek Sharma’s batting wasn’t just aggressive—it was poetic. Every shot felt like a statement, every six a defiance of the odds. He brought up his maiden IPL century in a jaw-dropping 40 balls, the fastest ever at Hyderabad and against Punjab Kings. With the audience aware that they were watching history, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium erupted as he hoisted his bat. His innings was a masterclass: 14 boundaries, 10 sixes, and a strike rate that left bowlers shell-shocked.
By the time he was done, Abhishek had 141 off 55 balls—a knock that shattered KL Rahul’s record for the highest score by an Indian in IPL history and ranked third overall. It wasn’t just about the numbers, though. His strokeplay was a blend of elegance and ruthlessness, dismantling a quality PBKS attack with surgical precision. Spinners, pacers, it didn’t matter—Abhishek had an answer for everything.
With Abhishek leading the charge, SRH cruised to 246 with nine balls to spare, sealing the highest successful run-chase in IPL history. The Player of the Match award was a no-brainer. In addition to being a personal victory, Abhishek Sharma’s IPL 2025 century set a new standard for both SRH and the competition.
Why This Chase Stood Out
So, what made this run-chase so special? For starters, chasing 246 in under 19 overs was the kind of feat that sounded like it belonged in a cricket video game, not real life. According to ESPNcricinfo, only a handful of IPL matches had seen higher targets chased, and none with the kind of dominance SRH displayed here. The ‘Travi-Shek’ partnership set the tone, but Abhishek’s ability to maintain that intensity for 55 balls was what sealed the deal.
Compared to other iconic IPL chases—like Rajasthan Royals’ 223/5 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008 or Mumbai Indians’ 219/6 against The 2021 Chennai Super Kings—SRH’s attempt was notable for its sheer boldness. The strain of a target of 240 or more caused most teams to falter. Instead of merely chasing it, SRH made it seem easy.
The Role of Team Strategy
Pat Cummins deserved a nod here, too. His choice to support his openers’ aggressive strategy as captain of SRH paid off handsomely. Instead of playing it safe, SRH went all-in, trusting Abhishek and Head to set the pace. Cummins’ own bowling was expensive, but his leadership shone through in the field, with smart bowling changes that disrupted PBKS’s rhythm after their explosive start.
Harshal Patel’s 4/42 was another game-changer. Despite Stoinis’s late assault, Harshal’s wickets kept PBKS from crossing 250—a psychological barrier that might’ve tipped the scales. Eshan Malinga, the debutant, also showed nerves of steel, picking up key wickets in his first IPL outing. It was this blend of bold batting and timely bowling that made SRH a team to watch in IPL 2025.
What Came Next for Abhishek Sharma?
Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking IPL 2025 century put him in the spotlight, and for good reason. At just 24, he was already being touted as India’s next big thing. His ability to dominate both spin and pace, combined with his composure under pressure, drew comparisons to the likes of Virat Kohli in his early years. But what set Abhishek apart was his hunger. Post-match, he told Star Sports, “I just wanted to make this night count for SRH. The team believed in me, and I delivered.“
That knock was a turning point. With selectors watching, Abhishek’s performance strengthened his case for an India call-up, especially in T20Is. For SRH, it was a sign of things to come. If Abhishek could keep that form, opponents would need more than just good bowling—they’d need a miracle.
Punjab Kings’ Takeaways
Let’s not forget Punjab Kings. Despite the loss, their batting showed plenty of promise. Shreyas Iyer’s 82 off 36 was a captain’s knock, and Stoinis’s late blitz proved why he was a T20 superstar. But their bowling let them down. Yash Thakur, Chahal, and Maxwell struggled to contain SRH’s openers, and the lack of early wickets proved costly.
For PBKS to bounce back, they needed to tighten their bowling strategy. As cricket analyst Harsha Bhogle noted on X, “Punjab’s batting is world-class, but without control in the powerplay, you’re asking for trouble.” It made sense—most teams couldn’t recover from an opening score of 83/0 in six overs.
The Bigger Picture for IPL 2025
That match wasn’t just about one night in Hyderabad—it was a glimpse into what made IPL 2025 so electrifying. The tournament had already seen its share of high-scoring thrillers, but SRH’s chase raised the bar. As teams leaned into aggressive batting, more records were likely to tumble. According to a Cricbuzz report, IPL 2025 had the highest average run-rate in the powerplay since the tournament began, a trend SRH and PBKS exemplified there.
For fans, it was a reminder of why the IPL remained the gold standard of T20 leagues. Where else could you see a 24-year-old rewrite history, a debutant yorker steal the show, and a 246-run chase look like a walk in the park? That was cricket at its most exhilarating.
Conclusion
Not only was Abhishek Sharma’s IPL 2025 century a personal achievement, but it also made a message. Alongside Travis Head, he turned an impossible chase into a masterclass, propelling SRH to a historic 8-wicket win over Punjab Kings. From Shreyas Iyer’s fiery 82 to Marcus Stoinis’s late heroics, the match had it all: drama, records, and moments that would be replayed for years. For SRH, it was a confidence boost that could shape their season. For Abhishek, it was a stepping stone to stardom. As IPL 2025 rolled on, one thing was clear: nights like those were why we loved cricket.
