Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) the opener Abhishek Sharma ran into trouble despite playing a key role in his team’s 65th victory Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2026. The young opener has been booked for breaching the league’s code of conduct following his apparent frustration at the Eden Gardens after his controversial dismissal.
The IPL Governing Council confirmed that Abhishek was fined 25 percent of his match fee and given one demerit point. The fine is estimated to be between ₹12-15 lakh, a significant setback for the 25-year-old. Importantly, this is not his first offense – he was also disciplined in the previous season.
With this latest setback added to his record, Abhishek will now have to be careful. According to IPL rules, accumulating four minus points in a season can lead to an automatic one-match suspension, meaning this incident serves as a serious warning for the future.
What led to the sanction against Abhishek Sharma?
The disciplinary action stems from an incident in the ninth over of SRH’s innings. Abhishek, who was in the middle of the strike, tried to hit Blessing Muzarabani. The ball headed towards deep square leg where Varun Chakravarthy showed a leap to complete the low catch.
The umpires on the field were unsure of the legality of the catch and referred the decision to the third official. After considering numerous angles, the call was granted, which undoubtedly went in the player’s favor.
Abhishek did not like the decision. Visibly disappointed, he reacted harshly as he walked back to the pavilion. His gestures and use of foul language were clearly picked up by the stump mics and live broadcast.
This led to a breach of Article 2.3 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which specifically prohibits the use of “offensive, obscene or indecent language” that is audible to spectators.
An IPL statement confirmed the move: “Abhishek Sharma, all-rounder, Sunrisers Hyderabad, has been fined 25 percent of his match fee and also given one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct… He has admitted a Level 1 offense under Article 2.3 and accepted the match referee’s sanction. The decision is final and binding.” the statement said.
The matter was quickly put to rest by accepting the sanction, but it highlighted how closely player behavior is watched in modern cricket.
Also READ: IPL 2026 – Fans react to SRH’s thrashing of KKR at Eden Gardens
Abhishek’s brilliant knock overshadowed the controversies
Unfortunately, the penalty overshadowed Abhishek’s amazing performance. The left-hander was in complete control during his brief stay at the crease, smashing 48 runs off just 21 balls at a strike rate of over 220.
His innings included four boundaries and four sixes, showing his ability to take on bowlers right from the start. Along with Travis Head, who scored a brisk 46, Abhishek helped SRH reach an opening stand of 82 runs in just over five overs – a start that set the tone for the innings.
Despite falling just two runs short of his half-century, Abhishek still reached a significant milestone. He became the first Indian batsman to hit 100 sixes for SRH in IPL history, taking his tally to 101 and second only to David Warner on the franchise’s list.
SRH finally took advantage of the strong foundation laid by the openers sending giant 226/8. Heinrich Klaasen’s 52 and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s quickfire 39 ensured that the pace of composition never slowed.
In reply, KKR struggled to reach the steep target. Finn Allen and Angkrish Raghuvanshi put up some resistance but regular wickets derailed the chase. The hosts eventually scored 161 in 16 overs to give SRH a comprehensive victory.
Also READ: IPL 2026 – Fans react to SRH’s thrashing of KKR at Eden Gardens
