Vaibhav Sooryavanshi tipped to hit ‘100 sixes’ in IPL season after breaking Gayle’s record

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image: After Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played a breathtaking 97 off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator, the 15-year-old sensation not only pushed Rajasthan Royals into Qualifier 2 but also broke one of Chris Gayle’s iconic IPL records. Sooryavanshi has broken Gayle’s long-standing record for most sixes in a single IPL season and is now on top with an amazing 65 sixes this year. Notably, he could add to this tally further if Rajasthan Royals make it to the finals of IPL 2026.Rajasthan Royals stormed into Qualifier 2 with a dominant 47-run victory after posting a massive 243/8 thanks to Sooryavanshi’s explosive innings. In response, Sunrisers Hyderabad collapsed under the pressure and were bowled out for 196, with Jofra Archer taking three crucial wickets during the powerplay.Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra analyzed what makes Sooryavanshi such a destructive T20 batter on Star Sports’ JioStar and predicted that the teenager could one day hit the unimaginable milestone of 100 sixes in a single IPL season.“It all starts with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s backstroke. That generates tremendous power. He has a very solid base in the bend and mostly likes to hit straight down the ground or to the leg side where he can use his bottom hand effectively,” explained Chopra.“But some of the strokes he played showed maturity as well. For example, the way he waited and then lifted the slower ball from Shakib over the covers was special. He stopped, held his shape and then let the shot go.”Chopra believes that Sooryavanshi represents a new generation of pure T20 cricketers who have grown up solely on the intrepid approach of the format.

How many sixes do you think Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will hit in the upcoming games?

“He reminds us what a batter can become if they grow up on a diet of only T20. Fearlessness is just in his DNA. Right now we are all shocked by what he has achieved, but in the next five years we can talk about him breaking his own records,” Chopra said.“Chris Gayle was a legendary T20 player, but he also had a Test triple century. Vaibhav is different. From a very young age, he focused almost exclusively on T20 cricket. That’s exactly the kind of player he always wanted to become.”The former Indian opener then made a stunning prediction about the teenager’s future.“He has already hit 65 sixes this season. He can get to 70 in the next match. And who knows? Maybe next season or the one after that, he might even hit 100 sixes in one IPL season,” added Chopra.