Mumbai (Maharashtra), April 30 (ANI): Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Travis Head praised teammate Abhishek Sharma for being one of the best spin hitters he has ever seen. This came after SRH defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) in an IPL match.
The opening pair of Head and Abhishek once again performed well, with Head scoring 76 runs off 30 balls, including four boundaries and eight sixes, which helped chase down a target of 244 during the powerplay. Meanwhile, Abhishek contributed 45 runs in 24 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes, as part of a strong opening partnership worth 129 runs.
Speaking after the match, Head mentioned that he prefers giving Abhishek the strike when spin bowlers are on the field due to his exceptional ability against spin. He also highlighted how Abhishek puts immense pressure on opposing teams.
Abhishek currently leads the Orange Cap for the most runs in the season with 425 runs in nine innings, averaging 53.12 and a strike rate of 209.35. Against spin, he has been particularly effective, averaging 57.3 and striking at over 235.
Head also reflected on his own performance, noting it was good to contribute after a period where he struggled. SRH’s victory marked their sixth win in nine matches, securing third place in the IPL standings with 12 points.
MI, who chose to bat first, had Will Jacks and Ryan Rickelton score an explosive partnership of 93 runs. Rickelton hit a century, helping MI reach 243/5. SRH’s bowlers, including Praful Hinge and Eshan Malinga, performed well.
In the chase, Heinrich Klaasen played a crucial role with 65 runs, anchoring the partnership that helped SRH win comfortably with six wickets in hand and eight balls remaining. MI now sits ninth in the standings and needs to secure more wins to stay in playoff contention.