IPL Record Shattered As Sunrisers Hyderabad Post Highest-Ever Score
IPL Record Shattered As Sunrisers Hyderabad Post Highest-Ever Score...
Cricket history was made Sunday as Sunrisers Hyderabad demolished the IPL's highest-ever team score with a staggering 287/3 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The record-shattering performance at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has gone viral globally, including among US cricket fans tuning into the growing T20 phenomenon.
The previous record of 277, set by Hyderabad just three weeks ago, was obliterated by Travis Head's 102 off 41 balls and Heinrich Klaasen's 67 off 31. American viewers are engaging with the milestone as Major League Cricket prepares for its second season this July, with many comparing the explosive batting to MLB home run records.
ESPN's streaming coverage saw a 217% US viewership spike during the match according to early data. "This changes how we think about T20 ceilings," said former USA cricket captain Jaskaran Malhotra. The match trended #1 on X (formerly Twitter) in 12 countries including the US by midnight ET.
Hyderabad's achievement comes during peak US viewing hours for IPL matches, with Willow TV reporting record subscriptions this season. Cricket analysts note the timing coincides with growing American interest ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the US and West Indies in June.
The record was set on a batting-friendly pitch with short boundaries, but experts emphasize the skill behind 22 sixes and 28 fours. MLB star Mike Trout, a known cricket enthusiast, tweeted "Absolutely unreal power" during the innings break. Disney+ Hotstar, the IPL's digital broadcaster, confirmed over 500,000 concurrent US streams during the historic knock.
With Major League Cricket expanding to six teams this summer, including new franchises in Chicago and Los Angeles, the record has sparked debate about whether American pitches could produce similar fireworks. The previous highest T20 score on US soil remains the 258/4 by Canada against Turkey in 2019.
IPL viewership in the US has grown 84% year-over-year according to Nielsen, with Sunday's match expected to set new benchmarks. The league's American media rights, currently held by Willow TV through 2027, are projected to triple in value during the next bidding cycle.
As cricket gains traction in the US sports landscape, Hyderabad's record-breaking performance provides a watershed moment for the sport's stateside potential. The team will look to extend their momentum when they face Chennai Super Kings on April 28 in another primetime US broadcast.
