Rajasthan Royals Vaibhav Suryavanshi (AP Photo)
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi put in one of the greatest batting performances in IPL history during the 2026 Eliminator, smashing records at a staggering rate while dismantling Sunrisers Hyderabad with a stunning 97 off just 29 balls. While representing Rajasthan Royals in Mullanpur, the teenager unleashed sheer chaos on a flat batting surface, dismantling even experienced players like Pat Cummins with fearless play and unbelievable power strokes. Sooryavanshi hit 12 sixes during his explosive innings, repeatedly sending the ball deep into the stands as SRH’s bowlers ran out of answers. Cummins himself conceded four sixes to the 15-year-old and finished with forgettable figures of 0 for 64 in four overs. RR’s opener narrowly missed breaking Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest IPL century after falling to 97, just one stroke away from surpassing Gayle’s landmark 30-ball milestone from 2013. But even without the century, Sooryavanshi rewrote several IPL records during the innings – including one of Gayle’s most famous milestones. The teenager surpassed Gayle’s 14-year-old record for the most sixes in a single IPL season and now sits alone at the top with 65 maximums.
Most sixes in IPL season:
- 65* – Vaibhav Suryavanshi (2026)
- 59 – Chris Gayle (2012)
- 52 – Andre Russell (2019)
He also now holds the record for the most Powerplay runs ever scored in a single IPL season, surpassing David Warner’s long-standing mark from 2016. Most powerplay runs in the IPL season:
- 490 – Vaibhav Suryavanshi (2026)*
- 467 – David Warner (2016)
- 402 – Travis Head (2024)
The teenager smashed eight sixes inside the powerplay during the Eliminator, the most ever in the first six overs of an IPL innings. Most sixes in overs 1 to 6 in IPL innings:
- 8 – Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs. SRH, 2026 Remover
- 7- Sanath Jayasuriya vs. CSK, 2008
- 7- Jos Buttler vs. DC, 2018
- 7- Jonny Bairstow vs RCB, 2022
- 7 – Abhishek Sharma vs. BBKS, 2026
Sooryavanshi also became the first batsman in IPL history to hit 10 or more sixes three times in a season. Hit 10+ sixes in IPL innings most times:
- 4- Chris Gayle
- 4 – Vaibhav Suryavanshi*
- 2- Abhishek Sharma
- 2- Finn Allen
His 11 sixes in a knockout match also set a new record for the most ever number of sixes in an IPL play-off. Most sixes in IPL knockout rounds:
- 11* – Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs. SRH, 2026
- 10- Shubman Gill v. MI 2023
- 9- Rajat Patidar v. GT, 2026
The innings bolstered his impressive numbers in IPL 2026, as Sooryavanshi is now the highest-scoring batsman in a single IPL season. Most runs by an uncapped bat in an IPL season:
- 680* – Vaibhav Suryavanshi (RR, 2026)
- 625 –
Yashavi Jaiswal (RR, 2023) - 616 – Shaun Marsh (PBKS, 2008)
He also equaled his own record of most sixes by an Indian batsman in a single innings in the IPL. Most sixes in an IPL innings by an Indian:
- 12- Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs. SRH, 2026
- 12 – Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs. SRH, 2026 Remover
- 11- Murali Vijay v. R.R., 2010
At one stage, Rajasthan looked set for a bigger total after racing to 180 for 2 from 13 overs, with Sooryavanshi turning the match into a one-on-one spectacle. His opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal was largely reduced to watching from the other end as the teenager fired balls across every part of the ground. However, despite all the records and applause, the slow return to the pavilion after his dismissal perhaps sums up that night best. Sooryavanshi knew history was just around the corner, and even after producing one of the greatest IPL innings ever, the 15-year-old was still frustrated at missing out on something bigger.