The legendary batter Chris Gayle has praised the 15-year old Vaibhav Suryavanshi after his batting carnage during the eliminator clash in the IPL 2026 played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.
The young sensation produced an explosive knock of 97 runs off 29 deliveries for the Rajasthan Royals, setting up the side to post 243/8. His knock included 5 fours and 12 sixes at a strike rate of 334.
He also shattered the records of Chris Gayle for most sixes in a single IPL season. He has smashed 65 sixes in the season, surpassing Chris Gayle’s 59 sixes from the 2012 season.
However, he fell just short of completing the fastest century in IPL history. Talking on Instagram, Chris Gayle congratulated the youngster, saying, “Outstanding @Vaibhav_Sooryavanshi09, a new six machine @iplt20.”
“What a phenomenal player Vaibhav is. Great entertainment, young man! New Six machine,” Gayle wrote on social media after the match.
He also acknowledged the youngster missed the milestone of the fastest IPL hundred, adding that Suryavanshi was ‘unlucky’ but would ‘get there eventually.’
The young prodigy has been in sensational form this season, scoring 680 runs in 15 innings at an average of 45.33 and a staggering strike rate of 242.85. He also has a century and four fifties.
Suryavanshi has also equalled Chris Gayle’s record for most 10-plus six-hitting innings in IPL season and also holds the record for most sixes in an IPL knockout innings by an Indian batter.
He has displayed dominance in the powerplay scoring 490 runs in this season, which is the most ever in IPL edition, surpassing David Warner’s previous best.
His explosive knock has put the side to a 47-run victory as the side advanced to qualifier 02 to face the Gujarat Titans.
Speaking on the post-match presentation, Vaibhav Suryavanshi said, “I got to know after the game.”
“My focus was on hitting a six. I will score centuries in future, but the focus was on getting maximum runs for the team. I just work on my plan, and if there are any shortcomings, I just try to work on that.”
Speaking about his approach in the IPL 2026 season, he said, “I try to just analyse how to face the bowlers, judge the length of the boundaries. When I am showing good intent, the bowler is under pressure,” he said.
“We have won, so we will celebrate and try to do well in the next game. I don’t think much about the bowlers, try to just play my game.”
Rajasthan Royals will play in the qualifier 02 against Gujarat Titans on May 29 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur.
Comments are closed.