Rajasthan Royals teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is rapidly turning IPL 2026 into his own highlight reel, and now the 15-year-old batting sensation is closing in on one of the tournament’s most iconic records. After smashing a breathtaking 93 off just 38 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur, Sooryavanshi moved to 53 sixes for the season, leaving him only six maximums short of Chris Gayle’s all-time IPL record of 59 sixes in a single edition, set back in 2012.
What made the knock even more remarkable was the way Sooryavanshi built his innings. The left-hander started cautiously, scoring only five runs from his first 10 deliveries before launching a brutal counterattack that completely changed the momentum of the chase. By the time he departed, Rajasthan Royals needed just 41 runs from 36 balls while chasing a daunting 221-run target.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan compared the young RR batter to Chris Gayle, admitting that bowlers are already beginning to fear Sooryavanshi’s presence at the crease.
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“In his first 10 balls, he was batting at a strike rate below 100, and then he finished with 93 off 38 balls. That tells you about his range and confidence,” Irfan Pathan said on JioHotstar.
“With 53 sixes already, he is seriously threatening Chris Gayle’s record of 59 sixes from IPL 2012. As bowlers, we were always scared of bowling to Gayle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is creating that same kind of fear now,” he added.
Pathan was particularly impressed with the youngster’s maturity and shot selection. While Sooryavanshi has often been labelled a dominant leg-side hitter, his innings against LSG showcased a much wider range of strokeplay.
“The way he played through the off-side was unbelievable. The upper-cut over third man, the drives over cover — those shots showed tremendous control and maturity. It’s becoming very difficult to stop him,” Irfan Pathan explained.
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Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar was equally stunned by the innings and described it as a “masterclass” from a future superstar. “Words are not enough to explain the talent this young boy possesses. Some of those shots were extraordinary. He is going to attract crowds wherever he plays,” Bangar said. With Rajasthan Royals still fighting for a playoff spot, Sooryavanshi’s explosive form could prove decisive in the final stretch of IPL 2026.
