Sunrisers Hyderabad crushed Delhi Capitals by 47 runs in IPL 2026 Match 31 at Hyderabad on April 21, 2026. Most importantly, Abhishek Sharma‘s breathtaking 135* off 68 balls (10 fours, 10 sixes) consequently powered SRH to a massive 242/2, the highest team total of the season so far.
Although DC fought back through Nitish Rana‘s aggressive 57 off 30, Eshan Malinga‘s devastating 4/32 and Harsh Dubey‘s 3/12 in 2 overs ultimately restricted them to 195/9. As a result, Abhishek earned both POTM and Cricinfo MVP (130.62 points).
Match Summary
| Details | Info |
|---|---|
| SRH Score | 242/2 (20 overs) |
| DC Score | 195/9 (20 overs) |
| Result | SRH won by 47 runs |
| Venue | Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Date | April 21, 2026 (Night Match) |
| Best Batter (SRH) | Abhishek Sharma – 135* off 68 balls |
| Best Batter (DC) | Nitish Rana – 57 off 30 balls |
| Best Bowler (SRH) | Eshan Malinga – 4/32 in 4 overs |
| Best Bowler (DC) | Axar Patel – 1/23 in 2 overs |
| Player of the Match | Abhishek Sharma (SRH) |
SRH Innings: 242/2 in 20 Overs
Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head gave SRH a blistering start. The opening pair consequently raced to 67/0 in the powerplay without losing a single wicket, because DC’s bowlers had absolutely no answers.
Furthermore, they brought up the 50-run partnership in just 28 balls (Abhishek 34, Head 15). Abhishek was particularly the aggressor, since he reached his fifty off only 25 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes).
However, Head eventually fell at 97/1 (8.5 overs), caught by Sameer Rizvi off Axar Patel. Despite that, the opening stand of 97 runs had already set the tone for a monster total.
Abhishek’s Century and Kishan’s Cameo
Ishan Kishan then joined Abhishek and immediately maintained the intensity. The pair subsequently added 79 runs for the second wicket, because Kishan contributed a quickfire 25 off 13 balls (2 fours, 1 six) at SR 192.30.
Meanwhile, Abhishek brought up his century off just 47 balls (7 fours, 9 sixes). In addition, SRH crossed 100 in 9.2 overs (56 balls) and then 150 in 12.6 overs (78 balls). Kishan eventually fell at 176/2 (14.4 overs), run out by Nitish Rana.
Klaasen’s Brutal Finish Alongside Abhishek
Heinrich Klaasen walked in and immediately went berserk. He smashed an unbeaten 37 off just 13 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes) at a stunning SR of 284.61. Consequently, the third-wicket pair added 66 unbeaten runs, taking SRH well past 240.
As a result, SRH crossed 200 in 16.6 overs (102 balls) and then ultimately finished at a mammoth 242/2. Abhishek finished unbeaten on 135 off 68 balls (10 fours, 10 sixes) at SR 198.52. Undoubtedly, it was the innings of the tournament.
SRH Top Performers with the Bat
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 135* | 68 | 10 / 10 | 198.52 | not out |
| Travis Head | 37 | 26 | 2 / 2 | 142.30 | c Rizvi b Axar Patel |
| Heinrich Klaasen | 37* | 13 | 3 / 3 | 284.61 | not out |
DC Bowling: Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T Natarajan | 4 | 40 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Lungi Ngidi | 4 | 41 | 0 | 10.25 |
| Axar Patel | 2 | 23 | 1 | 11.50 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-97 (Head, 8.5), 2-176 (Kishan, 14.4)
DC Chase: 195/9 in 20 Overs
Pathum Nissanka (8 off 6) fell early at 21/1 (2.1 overs), caught off Dilshan Madushanka. However, KL Rahul and Nitish Rana subsequently rebuilt the innings with an aggressive second-wicket stand.
In fact, the pair added 86 runs for the second wicket. Rana was especially brutal, because he reached his fifty off just 27 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes). Furthermore, DC crossed 100 in 9.1 overs (55 balls) with both batters looking comfortable.
Triple Blow at 107 Destroys DC’s Chase
Then came the collapse that effectively ended DC’s hopes. First, KL Rahul (37 off 23) fell at 107/2 (9.4 overs), caught by Abhishek off Sakib Hussain. Just 3 balls later, Rana (57 off 30) also departed at 107/3, caught by Abhishek off Eshan Malinga.
Remarkably, the very next ball saw David Miller bowled by Malinga for a golden duck at 107/4. As a result, DC lost 3 wickets at 107 in just 5 deliveries. Consequently, the required rate shot up beyond 14 per over with no set batters remaining.
Malinga and Dubey Clean Up the Tail
Sameer Rizvi (41 off 28) and Tristan Stubbs (27 off 16) then added 59 runs for the fifth wicket, briefly keeping DC alive. However, Malinga dismissed Stubbs at 166/5 (15.5 overs), and the resistance subsequently faded.
Eshan Malinga finished with 4/32 in 4 overs (economy 8.00), because he also removed Ashutosh Sharma (14 off 10) at 186/6. Meanwhile, Harsh Dubey was equally devastating with 3/12 in just 2 overs (economy 6.00), cleaning up Rizvi (41), Axar (2), and Ngidi (0) in the death overs.
Consequently, DC finished at 195/9, still 47 runs short of the target. Although they scored at nearly 10 per over, the 243-run target was ultimately too steep.
DC Top Performers with the Bat
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitish Rana | 57 | 30 | 7 / 3 | 190.00 |
| Sameer Rizvi | 41 | 28 | 2 / 2 | 146.42 |
| KL Rahul | 37 | 23 | 1 / 3 | 160.86 |
SRH Bowling: Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harsh Dubey | 2 | 12 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Sakib Hussain | 4 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Eshan Malinga | 4 | 32 | 4 | 8.00 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-21 (Nissanka, 2.1), 2-107 (Rahul, 9.4), 3-107 (Rana, 10.1), 4-107 (Miller, 10.2), 5-166 (Stubbs, 15.5), 6-186 (Ashutosh, 17.6), 7-192 (Axar, 19.1), 8-195 (Rizvi, 19.5), 9-195 (Ngidi, 19.6)
Key Highlights
- Abhishek Sharma’s 135* off 68 was simply untouchable: He reached 50 off 25 balls (5×4, 3×6) and then his century off just 47 balls (7×4, 9×6). His final tally of 10 fours and 10 sixes made it one of the most destructive innings in IPL history. Consequently, he earned both POTM and Cricinfo MVP (130.62 points).
- Eshan Malinga’s 4/32 broke DC’s chase wide open: He dismissed Rana (57), Miller (0), Stubbs (27), and also Ashutosh (14). In particular, the Rana-Miller double strike at 107 in consecutive deliveries was the turning point that effectively ended the contest.
- Harsh Dubey’s 3/12 in 2 overs was clinical: Although he only bowled 2 overs, Dubey subsequently picked up Rizvi, Axar, and Ngidi in the death overs. His economy of 6.00 was therefore the best among all bowlers in the match.
- The triple blow at 107 killed DC’s chase: Specifically, DC went from 107/1 to 107/4 in just 5 deliveries (overs 9.4 to 10.2). Losing Rahul, Rana, and Miller at the same score was undoubtedly the decisive moment of the entire match.
- Klaasen’s 37* off 13 was the finisher SRH needed: Although Abhishek did the heavy lifting, Klaasen’s cameo at SR 284.61 consequently added 66 unbeaten runs for the third wicket. He smashed 3 fours and 3 sixes to push SRH past 240.
- Rana’s 57 off 30 was excellent but ultimately wasted: His fifty came off just 27 balls (6×4, 3×6), and the Rahul-Rana stand of 86 runs initially gave DC hope. However, both fell within 3 balls of each other, and the chase consequently fell apart.
Verdict: SRH Dominate DC Behind Abhishek’s Record-Breaking 135*
Abhishek Sharma’s 135* was a one-man demolition that made 242 look routine. Together with Head’s 37 and Klaasen’s explosive 37* off 13, SRH posted a total that was always going to be out of reach.
For DC, although Rana and Rahul built a promising 86-run partnership, the triple collapse at 107 ultimately sealed their fate. When you lose 3 wickets without adding a single run, no amount of batting depth can bail you out.
