BIPIN DANI
Punjab's 24-year-old batting all-rounder, Abhishek Sharma, etched his name in IPL history with a phenomenal maiden century, dedicated to the loyal Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) fans—the Orange Army. The left-handed batter's scintillating knock on Saturday night electrified the Hyderabad crowd and shattered multiple records.
In an extraordinary display of power-hitting, Abhishek scored an awe-inspiring 141 runs off just 55 balls. His innings included a stunning 24 boundaries—14 fours and 10 sixes—making it a spectacle to remember in the T20 world. But what added an emotional touch to this iconic moment was what came next. Right after his remarkable performance, Abhishek pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, which bore the heartfelt message: "This one is for the Orange Army (SRH's fans)."
Speaking exclusively to this reporter, the following morning, Abhishek's father, Rajkumar Sharma, shared, "We were totally unaware about this paper. Even his team members were not aware." Rajkumar and his wife, Manju Devi, had arrived in Hyderabad a day prior to the match, a gesture aimed at lifting their son's morale and supporting the team during tough times. "The confidence level of the team members was so low, so we decided to go and boost the morale of my son, Abhishek," the proud father said.
The presence of family has proven to be a lucky charm for Abhishek in the past as well. Rajkumar fondly recalled, "In one of his earlier knocks, my daughter (a physiotherapist) was on the ground. It seems to have worked wonders for him."
Abhishek himself attributed his spectacular knock to his parents' support. "I was waiting for my parents to be at the stadium. Our entire team was waiting for them," he revealed with a smile after the match.
This memorable innings has cemented Abhishek Sharma's place as a star in the making, while also underscoring the significance of family and fans in an athlete's journey. The Orange Army, no doubt, will cherish this tribute for years to come.
