His early strike dealt a significant blow to the Sunrisers’ hopes of getting off to a strong start in the crucial final.
The IPL’s most expensive player Starc left the Chepauk crowd stunned with a peach of delivery that breached Abhishek’s defences and clipped the outside of his off-stumps.
Starc delivered a length ball that pitched on middle stump and deviated away at the last moment as Abhishek could not have done anything about it.
Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League final on Sunday.
Former champions Hyderabad won a virtual semi-final against Rajasthan Royals two days ago at the same venue in Chennai to make their third IPL final.
Hyderabad’s only title in the world’s most lucrative T20 tournament came in 2016 under another Australian, David Warner.
Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir led KKR to title victories in 2012 and 2014, and is now the team mentor.