Chris Gayle reacted strongly after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi broke his long-standing record for most sixes in an IPL season.
Sooryavanshi smashed 65 sixes in IPL 2026, going past Gayle’s 59 from the 2012 season. He did it while playing a 97-run knock off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator, where he also hit 12 sixes. That innings helped Rajasthan Royals reach Qualifier 2.
Gayle praised the teenager on social media after the match. He called him a “new six machine” and said he was impressed by his power hitting and entertainment value.
The reaction also came because Sooryavanshi came close to another Gayle record. He missed out on the fastest IPL century, finishing on 97. Gayle’s record stands at 30-ball hundred. Many people felt he was on track to break that too before getting out.
Even though Sooryavanshi missed his century, he said after the match that he was not thinking about records. He said his focus was only on hitting sixes and helping the team score as much as possible. He also got praise from Suryakumar Yadav, who called it a class innings and said he is a future star.
Rajasthan Royals now move ahead to Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shatters Chris Gayle Sixes Record in IPL 2026 With Historic Power-Hitting Season
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had a record-breaking IPL 2026 season with a huge impact in almost every match. In the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he smashed 97 runs off just 29 balls, hitting 12 sixes and finishing with a strike rate over 300.
With that season, he hit 65 sixes in total, which is now the most in a single T20 tournament. He went past Chris Gayle’s old IPL record of 59 sixes set in 2012. He also reached this number in far fewer balls, showing how quickly he scored compared to Gayle.
He scored 680 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 242.85, which is extremely high for a full season. He became the first batter in T20 history to score 600+ runs while striking at over 200.
His 97 against SRH also came with several records. He hit 12 sixes in that innings, which is the most by any batter in an IPL knockout match. Eight of those sixes came in the powerplay itself, which is also a record. He also reached his fifty in just 16 balls, one of the fastest in IPL playoff history.
Across the season, he had multiple explosive innings. He reached fifty in the powerplay five times. He also produced multiple 300+ strike rate knocks while scoring big runs, which is very rare in T20 cricket.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Becomes Fan Favourite in IPL 2026 as Jersey Sales Match Top Stars Like Kohli and Dhoni
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become a huge fan favourite after his IPL 2026 performances. His jersey demand has reportedly gone to levels usually seen with stars like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
He wears jersey number 03 for Rajasthan Royals, and fans are buying it in huge numbers. A team source said the demand is the highest they have ever seen. It has become the most sold jersey for the franchise this season.
This rise in popularity came after his 97 off 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. He hit 12 sixes in that innings and helped RR move into Qualifier 2. That knock also took his season six count to 65, breaking Chris Gayle’s long-standing IPL record.
His fearless batting has made him one of the most talked-about young players in the tournament. Fans are connecting with his aggressive style and quick scoring. This has boosted his popularity both on and off the field.
Because of this form, his jersey sales have jumped massively. And he is now being mentioned alongside top IPL stars in terms of fan following.
Rajasthan Royals Reach Qualifier 2 After Powerplay Performance Against SRH
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played one of the most destructive knocks of IPL 2026 in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He scored 97 runs from just 29 balls and hit 12 sixes. His innings helped Rajasthan Royals reach a massive total of 243 and set up a 47-run win.
He started very aggressively and reached his fifty in just 16 balls. During his innings, he almost broke Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest IPL hundred, which is 30 balls. He got out just short of it, but his hitting was still enough to completely change the match.
After his dismissal, RR slowed down in the final overs. But their score was already too big for SRH. Dhruv Jurel also added a quick 50 to keep the momentum strong.
In the chase, Jofra Archer made the big difference. He took 3 wickets early in the powerplay and broke SRH’s top order. He removed key batters like Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, which stopped SRH from building a proper chase.
SRH did try to fight back with small partnerships. But the required rate kept going up and they eventually finished on 196. That combination pushed Rajasthan Royals into Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
FAQs
Q. What record did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi break in IPL 2026?
A. Sooryavanshi hit 65 sixes in a single season, going past Chris Gayle’s 59 sixes from 2012.
Q. What was his biggest innings in the Eliminator?
A. Sooryavanshi scored 97 runs off 29 balls and hit 12 sixes.
Q. Which fast scoring record did Sooryavanshi miss in that match?
A. Sooryavanshi missed the fastest IPL century, finishing on 97 while the record is 30 balls.
Q. How did Chris Gayle react to his record?
A. Gayle called him a “new six machine” and praised his power hitting on social media.
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