Top News

New Delhi: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batter Abhishek Sharma successfully passed the spin test to slam a 15-ball fifty against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Saturday, April 18. The swashbuckling left-hander went berserk against part-time spinner Matthew Short and took him down in the Powerplay en route to his fifty.

Abhishek’s struggles against spin were left exposed for India in the T20 World Cup 2026 earlier this year. CSK decided to use the spin ploy against the left-hander in the Powerplay to keep him at bay. While it did help the visitors in slowing things down at the start of the Powerplay, Abhishek soon found his mojo and took down Short in his third over in the game.

Short opened the bowling for CSK in the Powerplay and conceded only 13 runs off his first two overs. He did well against Abhishek and his opening partner, Travis Head, with tight lines in his first couple of overs. However, the decision to give Short a third over on the trot backfired for CSK as Abhishek went all guns blazing against the Aussie all-rounder.

Abhishek slammed three consecutive fours and two sixes off the five deliveries he faced against Short in the 5th over of SRH’s innings. He started the over with a hat-trick of fours before smacking two big sixes on the last two deliveries to help SRH get 25 runs off the over and complete his fifty off just 15 balls.

Sit back and enjoy Abhishek Sharma at his fiery best 🍿

🎥 MAXIMUMS x 2⃣ en route to a 1⃣5⃣-ball half-century 💥

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/uJG04r8iXD #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #SRHvCSK | @SunRisers | @OfficialAbhi04 pic.twitter.com/JU9IkP7yDX

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL)

Abhishek created the record for the fastest fifty by an SRH batter in the history of IPL with his 15-ball fifty against CSK at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. Abhishek broke his own record of 16-ball half-century against Mumbai Indians while playing for SRH in IPL 2024. The left-hander now has the top two fastest fifties by an SRH batter in the IPL.

Abhishek slammed a blazing knock of 59 off 22 balls, laced with six fours and four sixes against CSK on Saturday. Jamie Overton got rid of the left-hander in the 8th over with a brilliant delivery. Abhishek edged it to CSK wicket-keeper Sanju Samson, who made no mistakes with the catch.