- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed 93 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals
- Irfan Pathan compared the teenager’s impact to Chris Gayle’s prime years
- Sooryavanshi is closing in on Gayle’s IPL record of 59 sixes in a season
Teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is beginning to inspire the same fear in bowlers that Chris Gayle once did during his dominant IPL years, according to former India all rounder Irfan Pathan.
The Rajasthan Royals opener continued his extraordinary run in IPL 2026 with a blistering 93 off 38 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on Wednesday night. Chasing a daunting target of 221, the 15 year old smashed 10 sixes and seven fours to power Royals to a convincing seven wicket victory. View the full scorecard here.
Sooryavanshi now has 53 sixes from just 13 matches this season and stands within touching distance of Gayle’s all time IPL record of 59 maximums set in 2012.
Sooryavanshi leaves bowlers searching for answers
Speaking on JioHotstar after the match, Pathan said the teenager’s explosive batting has already begun to unsettle opposition bowlers.
“It is very difficult to stop him. In his first 10 balls, he was batting at a strike rate of less than 100, and by the end of the innings, he had scored 93 runs off just 38 balls,” Pathan said on JioHotstar.
The former India pacer drew comparisons with Gayle’s intimidating presence during his peak years in the league.
“With 53 sixes, he is actually going after Chris Gayle’s record of 59 sixes, which has stood since 2012. As bowlers, we were always scared of facing Chris Gayle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is creating that same fear, and Gayle’s record is definitely in danger,” he added.
Read more: IPL 2026: ‘No Fear in His Body’: Kagiso Rabada Explains What Makes Sooryavanshi So Dangerous
Irfan Pathan hails Vaibhav after fearless Jaipur masterclass
Former India batter Sanjay Bangar was equally effusive in his praise for the teenage prodigy whose fearless approach has become one of the standout stories of the season.
“Can’t really explain it. Words are not sufficient. They can’t do justice to the kind of ability this young boy, this young prodigy, possesses. Some of those shots were extraordinary, to say the least,” Bangar said during the broadcast.
Bangar described the knock as one of the most entertaining innings of the tournament so far.
“He put on a masterclass, a sensational Vaibhav Sooryavanshi innings indeed. Terrific to watch, great entertainment. And he is definitely going to draw crowds wherever he goes and wherever he plays,” he added.
Also read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earns India A spot for Sri Lanka tri-series ahead of UK tour
Gayle’s six hitting record under serious threat
Sooryavanshi was named Player of the Match for the third time this season as his meteoric rise continues to light up IPL 2026.
With several league matches still remaining, the Rajasthan Royals youngster now appears well placed to surpass Gayle’s iconic six hitting milestone and further cement his status as the breakout star of the season.
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