Bengaluru: In a stunning display of power-hitting, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) rewrote history by notching up the highest team total ever recorded in the history of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Facing off against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, SRH blazed their way to a staggering 287 for three, surpassing their own record set earlier in the season against the Mumbai Indians (MI).
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium now boasts two out of the top three team totals in IPL history, a testament to the remarkable batting prowess witnessed in the match. From the onset, SRH exhibited an aggressive intent, taking on the RCB bowlers with relentless aggression. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head set the stage on fire, laying the foundation for SRH’s monumental total.
Head’s exceptional innings saw him reach a century in just 39 balls, marking the fourth fastest century in the history of the TATA IPL. His aggressive stroke play and commanding presence at the crease left the RCB bowlers struggling for answers. Alongside him, Abhishek Sharma and later Heinrich Klaasen piled on the pressure, propelling SRH to new heights.
Despite the loss of key wickets, SRH continued to build on their momentum, with Abdul Samad delivering a blistering cameo towards the end, smashing 37* off just 10 balls. The record-breaking moment arrived in the final over, as SRH crossed the 287-run mark, setting a daunting target for RCB.
In response, RCB showed resilience with a spirited batting display, led by Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. Kohli’s aggressive innings of 42 off 20 balls and Du Plessis’ rapid fifty provided glimpses of hope for the home side. However, consistent wicket-taking by the SRH bowlers and a monumental task ahead proved too much to overcome.
Dinesh Karthik’s explosive knock of 83 off 35 balls injected excitement into the match, but RCB ultimately fell short, finishing at 262 for seven.