Cheteshwar Pujara, the former Indian cricketer, recently praised the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), terming them as more destructive than the legendary duo of Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Pujara highlighted their performances in the IPL, especially in the 2024 season when they played a crucial role in SRH reaching the final.
Abhishek and Head showcased their potential as a formidable opening pair in the IPL, with their aggressive batting style and ability to score quickly. Despite not being able to maintain their consistency in the following seasons, Pujara believes that they are one of the most destructive opening pairs in the history of the IPL.
Pujara expressed his admiration for the duo in a JioHotstar release, stating, “In the last couple of seasons, what we have seen from the openers of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, I can certainly say they are one of the most destructive opening pairs in IPL history.” He added, “No other team in the IPL has consistently crossed the 250-run mark like SRH has, thanks to them.”
Comparing them to the famous duo of Gayle and Kohli, Pujara emphasized that Abhishek and Head are even more potent and intimidating for bowlers. He mentioned, “No bowler wants to run in and bowl against an opening pair like Abhishek and Head.”
Abhishek Sharma has amassed 1,753 runs in 74 matches for SRH, while Travis Head has scored 941 runs in 28 matches. Their impressive averages and strike rates reflect their impact as a dynamic opening pair for the Hyderabad franchise.
Despite their attacking prowess, Pujara pointed out SRH’s weakness of struggling while playing away matches. He explained, “SRH are a very destructive side and score a lot of runs when they play at home in Hyderabad. But away from home, their record is very poor.” This inconsistency has been a challenge for SRH in maintaining their aggressive batting intent in away games.
As SRH gears up to face defending champions RCB in the IPL 2026 opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28, all eyes will be on Abhishek and Head to continue their destructive form and lead their team to success in the upcoming season.
