New Six Machine: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Earns Praise from Chris Gayle After Breaking IPL Record

Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to rewrite record books in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The 15-year-old batter delivered a sensational knock of 97 runs off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Eliminator, leaving fans and cricket legends in awe.

Sooryavanshi’s explosive innings included five boundaries and a remarkable 12 sixes at a strike rate exceeding 334. Although he narrowly missed out on becoming the owner of the fastest century in IPL history, the youngster surpassed one of the tournament’s most iconic records — most sixes in a single IPL season.

The record was previously held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who smashed 59 sixes during the 2012 IPL season. Sooryavanshi has now raised the bar to 65 sixes this season, becoming the batter with the most sixes in a single IPL edition and even in a T20 tournament.

Gayle, popularly known as the “Universe Boss,” applauded the young Indian star on social media. Posting on Instagram, Gayle described Sooryavanshi as a “new six machine” and congratulated him for his incredible achievement. He also encouraged the youngster after he missed out on Gayle’s 30-ball fastest IPL hundred record, expressing confidence that Sooryavanshi would eventually achieve the feat.

The teenager’s season has been nothing short of extraordinary. In 15 innings, Sooryavanshi has amassed 680 runs at an average of 45.33 and an astonishing strike rate of 242.85, including one century and four half-centuries. His aggressive approach has seen him score nearly 89 percent of his runs through boundaries, highlighting his fearless batting style.

Sooryavanshi also broke several additional records during the match. He surpassed Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya’s tally for most sixes in an IPL powerplay, smashing eight maximums during the opening overs. He also became the youngest player to score over 600 runs in an IPL season and the highest run-scorer among uncapped players in a single IPL edition.

His blistering 97 helped Rajasthan Royals post a mammoth total of 243/8 before their bowlers restricted SRH to 196, sealing a convincing victory. Rajasthan Royals will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, with a place in the IPL 2026 final at stake.

With fearless strokeplay and record-breaking consistency, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the brightest young stars in world cricket, proving that age is no barrier to greatness.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. While we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, News Setu makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the content. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.