New Delhi: Abhishek Sharma He had a memorable night as he scored an unbeaten 135 to help Sunrisers Hyderabad register a crushing win over Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026, but it was his emotional and humorous post-match tribute to his father that really captured hearts.After his stunning knock, Abhishek made a special request to the broadcaster, saying, “Next time, I just want to have a camera pointed at him and see his reaction. It’s really fun. I always look at him and he always looks at me and gives me instructions, which is incredible. So that helps me a little bit too. Of course, performing in front of my parents and friends is always special.”“Also read: IPL 2026 Orange Cap match: Abhishek Sharma overtakes Heinrich Klaasen to top the list“He has been coaching me since the U-12 days”The SRH opener revealed that his father has been a constant presence throughout his journey. “Honestly, I don’t know, my dad has been sitting next to the screen since the U12 days and in Hyderabad too, he was always sitting there. Whenever I was in the non-striker position, he always told me how to play. So that continues,” said Abhishek, highlighting how this unique bond continues to influence his game.His father, sitting close to the screen, once again witnessed Abhishek savagely attacking the DC attack, giving the crowd a masterclass performance with his fearless batting game.Freedom, planning and special celebrationsAbhishek attributes his growth to the team environment and explains how support from leadership allowed him to thrive. “You have to have the support of the captain and the coach…the environment at Sunrisers in 2024 is a game-changer,” he said.Speaking about his approach, he added: “The way we started, I felt like we had a plan… it was a little slow, so we had to re-plan… I just wanted to entertain the audience.”He also explained his celebration, which includes the popular “L” gesture: “I’ve been doing this L celebration for a long time. It’s just the love for the stadium, the way they support us throughout the tournament and all the games, even back at the hotel. Just, I want to contribute from my side. I want to show them some love.” Speaking about his new celebration, he noted that it marks a rare occasion when he hits his 20th at-bat.Abhishek dedicated his game to his family, especially his sister who was absent from the game due to illness. With the help of his teammates, his stunning batting helped SRH post scores of 242/2 and register a comprehensive victory of 47 runs.
