Chris Gayle Launches 1st Reaction After Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Breaks His IPL Reco – Chris Gayle Reacts After Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Breaks His Historic IPL Record
The Dawn of a New Six Machine: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Historic Blitz
The Indian Premier League has always been a breeding ground for generational talent, but what transpired during the IPL 2026 Eliminator between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be remembered for decades. At just 15 years of age, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played an innings of absolute lifetime definition. Opening the batting for the Rajasthan Royals, the young prodigy dismantled the SRH bowling attack, scoring a breathtaking 97 runs off just 29 deliveries. In doing so, he did not just secure a victory for his side; he shattered one of the most prestigious records in T20 cricket history, previously held by the legendary “Universe Boss” Chris Gayle.
Sooryavanshi’s innings was nothing short of a batting masterclass wrapped in youthful exuberance. From the very first ball, the left-hander showed no respect for reputations, sending the ball sailing over the boundaries of the stadium with ridiculous ease. His 29-ball 97 powered Rajasthan Royals to a mammoth total of 243 runs in their allotted 20 overs. This towering total proved to be far too much for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who fell short by 47 runs in this high-stakes knockout encounter. The victory kept Rajasthan Royals’ title hopes alive, but the post-match chatter was entirely focused on the young sensation who had just rewritten the history books.
Breaking a 14-Year-Old Record Held by the Universe Boss
To understand the magnitude of Sooryavanshi’s achievement, one must look at the record he broke. West Indies legend Chris Gayle is widely regarded as the greatest T20 batsman of all time. Back in the 2012 IPL season, playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Gayle set a gold standard by hitting an astonishing 59 sixes in a single edition. For 14 long years, that record remained untouched, viewed by many as an unbreakable milestone in the tournament’s history.
Enter 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. In only his second IPL season, the explosive batter smashed twelve towering sixes during his destructive knock in the Eliminator against SRH, taking his tally for the season to a mind-boggling 65 sixes. With Rajasthan Royals still actively competing in the IPL 2026 title race, Sooryavanshi has the opportunity to stretch this record even further in the coming matches.
How Chris Gayle Reacted to the Tectonic Shift
Breaking a record held by Chris Gayle is bound to attract the legend’s attention, and the “Universe Boss” did not take long to respond to the batting mayhem. Proving his status as a true ambassador of the game, Gayle took to social media to heap praise on the young Indian batsman, admitting to being awestruck by the teenager’s effortless power hitting.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Gayle expressed his awe of the teenager’s effortless hitting and officially passed the baton to him. “What a phenomenal player Vaibhav is. Great entertainment young man! New Six machine,” Gayle posted. This ultimate seal of approval from the most prolific six-hitter in cricket history marks a historic moment for the young talent from Bihar.
Andre Russell Shuts Down Critics and Declares Himself a Fan
Gayle was not the only West Indian superstar left spellbound by Sooryavanshi’s heroics. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) legend and premier finisher Andre Russell also shared his admiration on Instagram. Russell addressed the external noise regarding the teenager’s age, brushing aside any skepticism by emphasizing that performance on the grandest stage is all that matters.
Russell lauded Sooryavanshi’s simple yet devastating batting philosophy of “see the ball, hit the ball,” openly admitting that he has become one of the youngster’s biggest admirers. The endorsement from someone of Russell’s stature further cements Sooryavanshi’s reputation as a genuine superstar in the making.
The Heartbreak of a Missed Century and the Race for the Orange Cap
While the night was celebratory, it also carried a tiny touch of heartbreak. Sooryavanshi was dismissed for 97 runs off 29 balls. Having reached 97 runs in just 28 deliveries, he was just three runs away from a century. Had he brought up his hundred on the 29th ball, he would have broken Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest century in IPL history.
Although he missed out on this historic milestone by the absolute barest of margins, his performance earned him the respect of the entire cricketing fraternity. Beyond the records, Sooryavanshi is enjoying an incredibly prolific season overall. The Rajasthan Royals mainstay has amassed 680 runs so far, making him one of the front-runners to claim the prestigious Orange Cap in IPL 2026.
