Chris Gayle praised 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his explosive 97 off 29 balls for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL knockout against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Eliminator match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Photo: IANS/Biplab Banerjee)
The 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to rewrite IPL record books, earning praise from the very man whose milestone he surpassed, West Indies legend Chris Gayle.
Sooryavanshi produced a breathtaking 97 off just 29 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL knockout, smashing 5 fours and 12 sixes at a strike rate of over 334. The innings not only powered RR to 243/8 but also saw the teenager go past Gayle’s record for most sixes in a single IPL season.
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The left-hander has now hit 65 sixes this season, surpassing Gayle’s 59 from IPL 2012, making it the most by any player in a single IPL edition. His explosive knock also fell just short of what could have been the fastest IPL century.
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Taking to Instagram, Gayle congratulated the youngster, writing: “Outstanding @Vaibhav_Sooryavanshi09, a new six machine @iplt20.” He also acknowledged the missed milestone of the fastest IPL hundred, adding that Sooryavanshi was “unlucky” but would “get there eventually.”
The teenager has been in sensational form this season, scoring 680 runs in 15 innings at an average of 45.33 and a staggering strike rate of 242.85. His tally includes a century and four fifties, with over 88% of his runs coming through boundaries.
Sooryavanshi has also equalled Gayle’s record for most 10-plus six-hitting innings in an IPL season (four), three of which have come this year alone. He now also holds the record for most sixes in an IPL knockout innings by an Indian batter.
His dominance in the powerplay has been historic as well, with 490 runs this season, the most ever in an IPL edition, surpassing David Warner’s previous best.
In knockout history, his 97 ranks among the highest scores for Rajasthan Royals, only behind Jos Buttler’s 106*.
Despite SRH being eliminated, Sooryavanshi’s rise continues to stand out as one of the defining stories of the season, with RR advancing to Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
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