Our Bureau
Jaipur
Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is creating “Gayle-level fear” among bowlers in IPL 2026, according to former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, as the youngster closes in on Chris Gayle’s long-standing record of 59 sixes in a single season.
Sooryavanshi has already smashed 53 sixes in the ongoing IPL 2026 season, putting him just six maximums away from equaling Gayle’s record that has stood since 2012. The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals prodigy is rewriting IPL history with his explosive power hitting, drawing comparisons to the legendary West Indian batsman at his peak.
“What makes this even more remarkable is that Sooryavanshi hit 12 sixes in a single innings during his breathtaking 103 off just 37 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this season,” said Pathan. “That remains the most sixes in an IPL innings by an Indian player.”
Pathan emphasized the psychological impact Sooryavanshi is having on opposition bowlers. “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 concluded.
The teenager’s dominance is not just about raw power. Sooryavanshi has also set another record by hitting 30 sixes in the powerplay this season, surpassing Abhishek Sharma’s previous mark for most powerplay sixes in an IPL season. His ability to clear the boundary consistently has made him the most feared batter in the tournament this year.
With matches still remaining in IPL 2026, all eyes are on whether Sooryavanshi can break Gayle’s 13-year-old record. The batting prodigy’s meteoric rise has already established him as one of the biggest discoveries in IPL history.
