Revisiting Head, Abhishek's exploits for SRH in IPL 2024
What's the story
The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) saw Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) miss out on the title as Kolkata Knight Riders beat them in the final. However, despite the setback, the season was highlighted by SRH's impressive batting performances. Openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma played crucial roles in their team's successful run throughout the tournament. The duo will aim to replicate their heroics in the upcoming 2025 edition as well. Here we revisit their exploits in IPL 2024.
Batting stats
Head and Sharma's batting brilliance
Both Head and Sharma kept taking on the opposition bowlers with their attacking batting. The Australian dasher scored 567 runs at 40.50 while Sharma mustered 484 at 32.27. Sharma(204.22) and Head (191.55) had the top-two strike rates among batters with 350-plus runs this year. Head scored four fifties and a ton this year. The Indian star recorded three fifties. They added the second-most runs in partnership (691 at a stunning run rate of 13.46).
Partnership records
Record-breaking partnerships
Head and Sharma formed a formidable partnership, contributing significantly to SRH's success. While Head and Sharma were involved in three century stands, no other pair managed multiple 100-plus partnerships in IPL 2024. Their most notable collaboration was a record-breaking partnership of 167 runs against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). They also achieved five 50-plus scores together—another record for a pair this season.
Powerplay performance
Dominance in powerplay
The league stage of IPL 2024 saw the SRH openers compile the top-two highest powerplay scores in the history of the cash-rich league. While they recorded 125/0 in the game against Delhi Capitals, the 2016 champions were 107/0 at the six-over mark against Lucknow Super Giants. According to ESPNcricinfo, SRH had the best run rate in powerplay in IPL 2024 (11.17), crossing the 80-run mark four times during the season.
Chase
Record-breaking chase
In a standout performance, Head and Sharma helped SRH chase down a target of 166 runs in just 9.4 overs against LSG. The match also witnessed SRH setting a new record for the highest total after the first 10 overs (IPL). The Orange Army broke their own record, having earlier scored 158/4 against DC and 148/2 against MI after 10 overs in the same season. SRH beat LSG with 62 balls to spare, the most in IPL.
Sixes and fours
Head and Sharma's 6-hitting spree
Sharma smashed the most sixes this season (42). No other Indian has tallied even 40 maximums in an IPL edition. He compiled 36 fours as well. The SRH southpaw overall recorded the sixth-most sixes by a batter in a year in IPL. Meanwhile, Head hit the most fours in IPL 2024 (64). The tally includes 32 maximums as well. .
Fifties
Fastest fifties for SRH
Head recorded two 16-ball fifties in the season, the joint-fastest for SRH in IPL history. Sharma also scored a 16-ball half-century. One of Head's half-centuries came off 18 balls. His compatriot Jake Fraser-McGurk was the only other batter with three IPL fifties in 18 balls or under in IPL 2024. Meanwhile, Sharma scored a 19-ball fifty as well this year.
Hundred
Fastest century for SRH
Head set a new benchmark for SRH by scoring the fastest hundred in the franchise's history off just 39 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He finished with a score of 102 runs off just 41 balls, the fourth-quickest IPL ton overall. He is only behind Chris Gayle (30 balls), Yusuf Pathan (37 balls), and David Miller (38 balls).