Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings have had similar journeys so far this IPL, with two wins from four games and sitting in the middle of the points table. Their paths to get there have been vastly different. Sunrisers have been the second-quickest batting team in powerplays this IPL (before the CSK vs KKR game on Monday), with a run rate of 11.66. In contrast, the Kings have struggled in the death overs (17-20), with the second-worst bowling record, leaking runs at 12.65.
The Sunrisers' new batting strategy in this IPL is mainly due to the success of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma at the top. Head has continued his excellent form from 2023, while Abhishek's boundary-hitting ability has surprised many. Although not well-known in T20 cricket, he has outperformed many established big-hitters in recent months. Since October 2023, Abhishek has hit 101 boundaries (47 fours and 54 sixes) in 326 balls, which equates to one boundary every 3.23 balls. This places him second only to Andre Russell's rate of 3.12 (among batters with at least 50 boundaries in this period).
Abhishek's methods may be high-risk, but they have brought high rewards. He has not been dismissed often while going for big hits. He has hit 101 boundaries in 14 innings while averaging 46 while batting in the top three. He has struck two centuries in this phase, which also includes ten knocks for champions Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he was the second-highest scorer while striking at 192. He has been smashing runs at 217.56 this IPL. In the previous two IPLs, he hit a six almost every 25 balls.
In this IPL he is hitting a six every five balls, against both pace and spin, in the powerplay and middle overs. With batters like Head alongside him, and Heinrich Klaasen and Abdul Samad to follow, the Kings bowlers will have to significantly improve their game. They will be hoping their international bowlers, Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel, perform better in the death overs.
The Kings will play their next four games in Mullanpur and will aim to take full advantage of their home ground to climb up the points table.