Suryakumar Yadav's (Sky) fun side was the highlight of Thursday night's Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Wankhede Stadium, where fierce cricket matches are common.
Mid-match, SKY snuck into Abhishek Sharma's pockets in a moment that has since gone viral, causing both on-field amusement and an online meme frenzy.
Abhishek's recent exploits against Punjab Kings, in which he astonished everyone with a 141-run blitz off just 55 balls, were humorously referenced in the gesture.
Following that knock, there was a lot of excitement and appreciation as Abhishek took a folded note out of his pocket that said, "This one is for the Orange Army."
The left-hander did not put on a spectacular performance on Thursday, but he did make a respectable 40 from 28 balls, including seven boundaries.
When the two met, the ever-entertainer Suryakumar made the decision to have a little fun. Pretending to look for another match-winning note, SKY leaned over and gave Abhishek a derisive pat down as he was adjusting his equipment. The audience adored it. The internet did the same.
Fans flooded timelines with memes, responses, and jokes when videos showing him patting Abhishek's pockets went viral. While some applauded Suryakumar's timing and sense of humor, others conjectured what the "note" might have said this time. The moment made the already exciting game even more exciting.
Opportunities for SRH's innings were abundant, including both openers' dropped catches in the opening over. With three boundaries off Deepak Chahar in the fifth over, Abhishek briefly rediscovered rhythm, but the comeback was fleeting. Raj Angad Bawa, a substitute fielder, eventually caught him in the ninth over.
Aniket Verma and Pat Cummins' late cameos helped SRH reach 162 for 5 despite a middle-order slowdown. This was a competitive total, but not quite the fireworks Abhishek had set off last week. Despite losing a few late wickets while chasing down 163, MI won by four wickets in a match between two struggling sides.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
