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From Dhawan's valiant knock to Bhuvneshwar's magical swing bowling, these moments have kept fans on the edge of their seats and cemented their place in IPL history
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have a history of producing thrilling encounters in the IPL. These matches have often been decided by individual brilliance, with players rising to the occasion and etching their names in PBKS vs. SRH folklore. Here, we revisit five such iconic individual performances that left fans spellbound.
In a forgettable outing for the Punjab Kings in 2023, skipper Shikhar Dhawan stood tall against his former franchise, the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He stitched together a valiant knock of 99* off just 66 balls, agonisingly close to a well-deserved century. Unfortunately, Dhawan's knock lacked support from the rest of the batting order, with only Sam Curran managing to reach double figures.
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Dhawan in attacking mode
Despite Dhawan's heroics, PBKS could only muster a below-par total of 144. SRH chased down the target comfortably, winning by eight wickets in the 18th over.
The opening partnership of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow was a nightmare for bowlers during their time at SRH. In their 2020 encounter against KXIP (now PBKS), Bairstow played a blinder, even outshining his opening partner. The England batsman tore into the KXIP bowling attack, scoring a whirlwind 97 off just 55 balls.
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Bairstow sealed the match for SRH
Just as Bairstow seemed destined for a well-deserved century, he was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi, leaving the Orange Army slightly deflated. However, the foundation had been laid. SRH posted a mammoth total of 201/6, which proved too much for KXIP, who were bundled out for 132.
After being released by Royal Challengers Bangalore, the swashbuckling Chris Gayle landed at the KXIP camp in the 2018 season. Many questioned whether the veteran batsman still had the firepower to dominate in the IPL. Gayle answered his critics in emphatic fashion against SRH, unleashing a vintage performance.
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The Universal Boss celebrating his ton
He tore apart the SRH bowling attack, smashing a belligerent 104 off just 63 balls. His innings were a masterclass in clean hitting, peppered with one boundary and a staggering 11 sixes. The "Universe Boss" reminded everyone why he is feared by bowlers worldwide. KXIP posted a daunting total of 193/3, which proved too much for SRH as they fell short by 15 runs.
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was on fire in the 2014 IPL season, playing a pivotal role in propelling KXIP to the final. One of his most destructive performances came against SRH in the high-scoring Sharjah stadium.
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Maxi with his iconic posture
Maxwell unleashed a whirlwind inning, scoring a belligerent 95 off just 43 balls. The hapless SRH bowlers had no answer to Maxwell's brilliance. KXIP set a mammoth target of 194, which proved insurmountable for SRH as they were bundled out for a paltry 121.
While the spotlight usually falls on batsmen, this list wouldn't be complete without acknowledging a bowler's brilliance. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the swing-bowling king of SRH, delivered a spell for the ages in their 2017 encounter against KXIP.
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Buvi the gamechanger
SRH posted a modest total of 160 runs, but what they lacked in runs, they made up for with Bhuvneshwar's exceptional bowling. He started with a bang, trapping KXIP's in-form opener, Hashim Amla, right off the first ball.
He dismissed the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Mohit Sharma, and KC Cariappa, stifling any momentum KXIP tried to build. The turning point came when Bhuvneshwar trapped Manan Vohra leg before wicket, just as the batsman was nearing a well-deserved century. Bhuvneshwar's sensational figures of 5/19 earned him a well-deserved Player of the Match award.
