Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pulled off the highest-ever successful IPL run-chase at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday (April 29) to defeat Mumbai Indians (MI) by six wickets.

In pursuit of a 244-run target, SRH reached home in 18.4 overs. The chase was led by a 129-run opening stand between Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24), followed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 off 30 balls. Salil Arora also provided the finishing touches with 30* from 10 deliveries.

Following the win, Abhishek stressed the importance of maximizing the powerplay as he provided a sneak peek into his and Head's aggressive batting philosophy.

“I mean, if you see the total, every team is going in the first innings. I mean, you have to step up there and do it for the team. No matter whatever the situation is, no matter whatever the total is. As an opener, probably, I think whatever you do in the powerplay, that's what really matters,” Abhishek said in the post-match interview.

“So that's the always plan me and (Travis) Head try to do. I mean, I always try to get out something of (Travis) Head, but he's just very quiet and he likes to do it with the bat most of the times. But still, I think whenever I ask him something, when he's outscoring, he just have one answer, just do whatever the ball you lift and just go for it. And that's the one, I think, philosophy we've been using in the few years now, is just lift the ball and hit it. And whenever you're in pressure, just talk to the other partner, get some confidence, and then just do it,” he explained.

Sharma further stated that they don’t set specific, long-term targets, but focus on the immediate ball. They congratulate each other on partnership milestones by checking the big screen.

“To be very honest, we always, you know, just congratulate each other on fifties and hundreds at a partnership. That said, that's we just figure out on the big screen and nothing else. We just watch the ball and react,” he remarked.

Abhishek Sharma lauded the SRH bowlers despite conceding 243/5 against MI. He understands it is a tough job being a bowler, appreciating Eshan Malinga, skipper Pat Cummins and others for stepping up.

“Yeah, I think big credit to the bowlers, the way they are bowling, the way they've stepped up in the last few games. I think that's the reason we are winning the games. Because if you see batters, as a batting unit, we always try to give that start or probably chase down the total in the powerplay or maybe in the death overs as well. But if you see as a bowler, it's a tough job and you have to, you are actually asking a lot of from them. And by this, I think the way Malinga, Paddy and other bowlers, they've been doing it very simple, just sticking to the plan and the way I think Pat (Cummins) is talking to the bowlers, that's really effective and as a bowling unit, they've stepped up a lot,” he concluded.