New Delhi, April 11 -- A day after Vaibhav Suryavanshi joined an elite list of batters with most Indian Premier League (IPL) fifties under 20 balls, Abhishek Sharma raced ahead of the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals kid with a 18-ball half-century against Punjab Kings at Mullanpur on Saturday. In the process, the India opener became the first batter in the history of IPL to register five half-centuries under 20 balls.

Sent into bat first, Abhishek clobbered Punjab Kings bowlers all around the park as Sunrisers Hyderabad raced to a century inside the powerplay. Abhishek's opening partner, Travis Head, was a mere spectator at the non-striker's end. The Indian left-hander hammered five fours and eight sixes, shared a 120-run alliance with open...