Abhishek Sharma’s Knock Wasn’t All-Time Best: Wasim Jaffer

The IPL 2025 was mightily impressed by Abhishek Sharma's spectacular 141 off just 55 balls, which many cricket experts have dubbed one of the best runs in IPL history. Wasim Jaffer, though, declined to refer to Abhishek Sharma's game-winning knock as "all-time great."

At the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday, April 12, Abhishek’s 141 helped SRH win by eight wickets by destroying the PBKS bowlers throughout the stadium, hitting 14 fours and 10 sixes, transforming a difficult chase into a walk in the park.

After losing four straight games, both at home and away, Sunrisers Hyderabad made a spectacular comeback in the current IPL 2025 after Travis Head (66) and Abhishek Sharma (141) contributed 171 runs to the opening stand while chasing the 246 runs.

“I won't say all-time best”- Wasim Jaffer, while praising Abhishek Sharma’s heroics

Wasim Jaffer declared after the game that he couldn't rank Abhishek Sharma's Hyderabad knock as the greatest IPL innings ever, but he was undoubtedly impressed by the SRH opener's incredible effort against the Punjab Kings.

But according to the former Indian batsman, this performance is deserving of a spot among the best innings in the tournament.

Although he acknowledged that Abhishek's knock was exceptional enough to boost Sunrisers Hyderabad's prospects for the IPL 2025 playoffs following early failures in the current campaign, the cricket analyst believed that the greatest tags are typically reserved for high-pressure playoff games.

Wasim was amazed by Abhishek's unafraid striking, precise timing, and composure under duress. The 24-year-old opener's innings, according to the cricket expert, has not only given SRH new hope for the playoffs but also revitalized their IPL 2025 campaign.

“It has to be. I won't say all-time best because I think you would rate, you know, all-time best on the basis of, you know, the playoff game or something like that. But considering, you know, the way they were playing, I think this will put them onto the platform where they can, you know, start believing that they can qualify,” Jaffer stated on ESPNCrininfo.

Abhishek's 141 an all-time great knock? #TimeOut pic.twitter.com/e6Syq8OxSt

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 13, 2025

Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head hammer PBKS bowlers into submission

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) faced Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 27th IPL 2025 match on April 12 in Hyderabad. PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat on a batsman-friendly pitch.

PBKS had a strong start, with Priyansh Arya (36) and Prabhsimran Singh (42) scoring 66 runs in just 4 overs. Shreyas Iyer then delivered an extraordinary knock, smashing 82 runs off 36 balls, including six fours and six sixes. Contributions from Marcus Stoinis (34 not out off 11 balls, including four consecutive sixes in the final over) and Nehal Wadhera (27) helped PBKS reach an imposing 245/6 in 20 overs.

SRH responded confidently, with Travis Head (66 off 37) and Abhishek Sharma scoring 93 runs in 7 overs. Abhishek Sharma continued his aggressive batting, achieving his first IPL century with 11 fours and 6 sixes in just 40 balls.

He went on to score 141 runs off 55 balls, hitting 14 fours and 10 sixes. SRH secured an eight-wicket victory with nine balls to spare, led by contributions from Heinrich Klaasen (21*) and Ishan Kishan. Their total of 246 runs marked the second-highest successful chase in IPL history.

Also Read: Abhishek Sharma Reveals Celebratory Note’s Message After Maiden IPL Century