Like Chris Gayle, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be feared by the bowler: Irfan Pathan

The spectacular rise of teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken an intimidating turn in IPL 2026. After his last destructive performance against Lucknow Super Giants, former India paceman Irfan Pathan noted that the 15-year-old wonder man is starting to create exactly the same psychological terror among Chris Gayle’s bowlers.

Chasing a mammoth target of 221 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the young Rajasthan Royals constructed a masterpiece of raw power. Sooryavanshi dismantled the opposition bowling unit with a red-hot 38-ball 93, an innings that included seven boundaries and 10 massive sixes. His clinical batting display enabled the Royals to chase down the steep target with ease and secure a decisive seven-wicket win.

IPL 2026, RR vs LSG: Highlights | Scorecard

Approaching Chris Gayle’s historic landmark

By clearing the ropes 10 times on Tuesday night, Sooryavanshi moved to an amazing 53 sixes for the season. He is now within reach of breaking the legendary single-season IPL record of 59 sixes, a benchmark established by Chris Gayle during his memorable 2012 campaign.

In an interview on JioHotstar, Irfan Pathan expressed his utter amazement at how smoothly the teenager managed to shift after a quiet start. Pathan emphasized that it is incredibly difficult to contain the young southpaw once he finds his rhythm, noting that Sooryavanshi was operating at a strike rate of under 100 in his first 10 deliveries before completely exploding.

“With 53 sixes, he is actually going after Chris Gayle’s record of 59 sixes, which has stood since 2012. As bowlers, we have always been scared to face Chris Gayle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi creates the same fear and Gayle’s record is definitely under threat,” said Irfan Pathan.

An incredible T20 masterclass

Former India all-rounder and coach Sanjay Bangar seconded the high praise. He admitted that common cricketing terminology fails to capture the immense ability of the teenage sensation and described his production as absolutely extraordinary.

Bangar described the tapping as a pure master class that provided great entertainment for the fans. He predicted that the young prodigy will easily draw huge crowds to the stadium seats wherever he showcases his skills in the future.

For his match-winning contribution, Sooryavanshi won his third Player of the Match award in the ongoing season. More importantly, his explosive bat ensures that Rajasthan Royals hold their playoff destiny in their own hands as he approaches his final league assignment against Mumbai Indians.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

20 May 2026 14:34 IST