Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma delivered a masterclass with the bat during Sunrisers Hyderabad’s clash against Punjab Kings in Match 27 of IPL 2025. Their explosive opening partnership made the steep 246-run target seem far less daunting. With aggressive intent from the start, the pair took the attack to the Punjab bowlers. They stitched together a remarkable 171-run stand for the first wicket, which is the second-highest opening partnership in Sunrisers’ IPL history.
Former cricketer Matthew Hayden praised the pair’s outstanding batting performance. Speaking about Abhishek Sharma, Hayden noted that the young batter showed great confidence and belief after being given a second chance due to a no-ball early in his innings. From that moment, Hayden felt it was clear Abhishek was going to take the attack to the bowlers and he did just that with remarkable success.
“They were absolutely outstanding. It was clearly Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head’s day. Everything seemed to work in their favor. There was an early chance, but a no-ball from Yash Thakur ruined everything. As a batter, when such moments go your way, you start to feel it’s your day. You take risks, and when they keep paying off, it builds your confidence. He played a special innings. It was simply incredible,” Hayden said on JioHotstar.
The former Australian opener also highlighted the smart approach taken by the Sunrisers Hyderabad openers, applauding how they shared the workload effectively. Abhishek Sharma aggressively targeted the spinners, while Travis Head focused on handling the pace attack. Hayden appreciated the way both left-handers executed their roles.
“It was a smart and well-paced partnership. Travis Head mentioned after the match that they had different roles. Abhishek focused on attacking the spinners, while Head targeted the fast bowlers and gave himself a bit of time to settle in. That kind of clarity is rare in T20 cricket, especially during a big chase, where every delivery counts and pressure can build quickly. The way they managed was truly remarkable. When you look at the stats, it’s amazing how a team that looked completely out of the contest just hours ago has bounced back strongly,” he added.