Vaibhav Sooryavanshi created history after surpassing West Indies legend Chris Gayle for the most sixes hit in a single IPL season and any T20 tournament edition.
The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals sensation achieved the milestone during the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad in New Chandigarh. Sooryavanshi smashed a breathtaking 97 off just 29 balls, including 12 sixes, taking his season tally to 65 sixes.
The previous record was held by Gayle, who had hammered 59 sixes for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during the 2012 IPL season. Sooryavanshi not only broke that long-standing IPL record but also set a new benchmark for the most sixes by any batter in a single T20 tournament edition.
Remarkably, the teenage opener reached the feat in only 266 balls, far quicker than Gayle’s 456-ball effort in 2012. His explosive batting has become one of the biggest talking points of IPL 2026.
Sooryavanshi’s innings against Hyderabad also featured several other records. His 12 sixes equalled the highest by an Indian in an IPL innings and became the most sixes ever hit in an IPL playoff match. He narrowly missed Gayle’s fastest IPL century record after falling for 97 while attempting another big shot.
The youngster has already scored 680 runs this season at a strike rate above 240, making him one of the most destructive batters in T20 cricket this year. Cricket experts and former players have praised his fearless approach, with many calling him a once-in-a-generation talent.
Even Gayle himself reacted to the achievement, calling Sooryavanshi “a new six machine” on social media and congratulating the teenager for his extraordinary season.
