Namandhir falls 2 short off Gayle’s 175

Fireworks in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League

The 2026 edition of the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League continues to delivers runs, records, thrilling finishes and entertainment. As a result, this season is turning out to be the best one yet.
Packed stadiums and high TV viewership prove the league’s popularity. This excitement stems directly from the participation of top international and IPL superstars who represent their home franchises.

Bridging Grassroots and Elite Talent

The Punjab Cricket Association structured the league around marquee Indian and IPL stars. This strategy bridges the gap between local grassroots talent and international icons.
India’s Test and ODI captain, Shubman Gill, made headlines after joining the Fazilka Falcons. His presence brings elite class and massive attention to the tournament. Additionally, explosive southpaw Abhishek Sharma brings raw power and aggression to the Amritsar Soormas. Meanwhile, India’s highest T20I wicket taker , Arshdeep Singh, leads the Ludhiana Lions’ attack with stellar death bowling. Proven IPL performers like Ramandeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Naman Dhir, and Nehal Wadhera also shine across the league.

Record-Shattering All-Round Performance by Namandhir

Match 18 at the I.S. Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali proved to be an absolute runs-fest. Star batter Namandhir fell just two runs short of Chris Gayle’s all-time T20 score record of 175. Namandhir delivered a masterclass in power-hitting, scoring 173 runs off just 64 balls. Consequently, his record-breaking effort helped the Amritsar Soormas avenge their opening-day loss to the Mohali Kings.

Namandhir’s brilliant knock punished Mohali’s decision to bowl first. After an early wicket fell, Namandhir reached his fifty in just 19 balls. Furthermore, he reached his hundred in 36 balls and crossed 150 runs in 50 balls. His explosive 173 featured 16 fours and 12 massive sixes at a strike rate of 270.31. His effort lifted Amritsar to 279/7 in 20 overs, which is the highest team total in league history.

The Mohali Kings fought back with strong intent. In fact, fifties from Jaskaranvir Paul (76) and Anmolpreet Singh (52) kept their hopes alive. However, the Kings fell short by 67 runs, finishing at 212/9.
Ultimately, Naman Dhir won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant all-round play, pairing his 173 runs with bowling figures of 2 for 8. With this win, the Amritsar Soormas build great momentum for the playoffs.