Vaibhav Sooryavanshi broke Gayle's all-time IPL record for most sixes in a season

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his amazing rise in the Indian Premier League when he surpassed Chris Gayle’s long-standing record of sixes in a season in the Rajasthan Royals Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. The 15-year-old opener smashed his 61st six of IPL 2026 to surpass Gayle’s long-standing record of 59 from the 2012 season, capping another breathtaking display of power.

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Landmark came in typical Sooryavanshi style, fearless and relentless. Facing Sakib Hussain in the fourth over, the teenager first equaled Gayle’s record before breaking it in the space of three deliveries. Sakib tried a slower route with the ball, bowled it full outside off but Sooryavanshi removed another cover easily. Another fuller delivery went away at long off and as the bowler cut short, the RR batter turned and hammered behind square for his 61st six of the season.

The third six also brought Sooryavanshi’s half-century off just 16 balls in a high-pressure Eliminator as Rajasthan Royals stormed to 63 for no loss in four overs.

MOST SIXES IN AN IPL SEASON

61* – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2026)

59 – Chris Gayle (2012)

52 – Andre Russell (2019)

51 – Chris Gayle (2013)

45 – Jos Buttler (2022)

Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the contest with a clear plan against the teenager. Pat Cummins started with the attacking fields and bowling a yorker length, trying to deny Sooryavanshi space to free his hands. Deep square leg and deep mid-wicket were initially placed on the boundary before the field moved to long-on and deep mid-wicket once the youngster settled down.

For most of the opening period, Cummins executed his plan well. Three deliveries over a very long length produced just one, but the one ball he set fire to was promptly punished. Sooryavanshi leans into the gap and lifts it sweetly over mid-on for a six.

Rajasthan finished the first over for 9 without loss, but the attack only intensified from there.

Eshan Malinga shared a similar experience from the other end. SRH surprisingly decided to retain Praful Hinge with the new ball and instead handed over the responsibility to Malinga. The Sri Lankan pacer bowled a disciplined performance for five balls before missing his yorker in the last delivery of the over. The attempted full ball turned into a swinging full toss and Sooryavanshi pounced and hooked it over backward square leg for another six.

RR raced to 20 for no loss after two overs, with SRH already forced into defensive fields and lethal lengths far earlier than expected.

Cummins came back but the teenager showed remarkable control of both pace and variation. A pair of fuller deliveries were dispatched for a four and a six straight down the ground before the short ball was cut off the pitch. Another slower delivery followed but Sooryavanshi held his shape beautifully and slapped it back over the bowler’s head for a six.

Even as Cummins tweaked his field for the yorker, fielding a straighter long-on and a wider boundary driver, Sooryavanshi remained composed enough to cut the last ball of the over away for a single.

– The end

Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

27 May 2026 20:03 IST