The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SHR) have got a beast batting lineup and that was truly shown in their first practice match before IPL 2026. If anyone at the SRH camp wanted a quiet hit-out before the season, they didn’t get one. What they got instead was a proper run-fest, the kind where scorecards start looking unreal and bowlers just wait for it to end. At the centre of it were Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. Different innings, same message.
Abhishek goes first, and doesn’t hold back
Abhishek had a quiet T20 World Cup 2026. But he put past all the showings and walked in and took his time for a few balls. Then he just opened up. He ended with 94 off 42, and it never felt like he was forcing it. Once he found his range, everything was hit clean. Down the ground, over cover, into the stands. It was the kind of knock where field placements stop mattering.
For SRH, this is exactly what they want to see. He had that 21-ball fifty in the T20 World Cup final, and this looks like he’s carried that touch straight into the IPL build-up. There was support too. Heinrich Klaasen made 49 without fuss, and Salil Arora’s 47 off 16 certainly raised his stocks. Due to this, SRH ‘A’ made 253 on the board in the practice game.
Then Ishan Kishan walks in and flips the script
Then, SRH ‘B’ had Ishan Kishan. He went straight after it. Ended with 72 off 25, and it came fast. No sighters, no slowing down. Just picked his areas and kept swinging. This matters for SRH. With Pat Cummins not around for the start, Kishan has been appointed as captain. And this was him doing exactly that, setting the tone instead of reacting.
There were a few positives with the ball too. Jaydev Unadkat picked up five wickets (5/48), even if it was an expensive spell. But honestly, this was a day for the batters. SRH would have walked off knowing one thing. At least a couple of their key players are already in rhythm.
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