Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has quickly become one of the most talked-about young hitters in IPL cricket, with his latest surge turning heads across the game. In the IPL 2026 Eliminator on Wednesday, the 15-year-old smashed a stunning 29-ball 97 and, in the process, set a new benchmark for the most sixes in a single IPL season. Sooryavanshi has already reached 65 maximums in the ongoing edition, breaking the mark of 59 that West Indies icon Chris Gayle had set in 2012. The sheer weight and timing of his power-hitting have drawn admiration even from players who once defined the format themselves.
After Sooryavanshi’s match-winning knock, former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) star Andre Russell—one of IPL’s best-known West Indian big-hitters—sent him a message of encouragement. Russell highlighted how difficult it is for even players well past their teens to replicate what Sooryavanshi has achieved, and urged the youngster to ignore the noise that comes with being so young. Posting on his Instagram story, Russell wrote: “Congratulations youngster, haters will say you’re not 15 years old, who cares. 30-year-old players out here trying their best to do what you’re doing. Keep going, I’m a fan. See ball, hit ball!” Russell also remains etched in the IPL six-hitting record books, sitting third on the list of most sixes in a season after hitting 52 during the 2019 campaign.
Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026 story added another unforgettable chapter on Wednesday. He struck 97 runs off only 29 deliveries, giving Rajasthan Royals (RR) the platform they needed before the match moved into its decisive phase. His innings ultimately underpinned RR’s 47-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Eliminator. Even though Sooryavanshi was the first wicket to fall, his impact had already carried RR to 125 at the end of the eighth over, with his aggressive strike-rate setting the tone for the innings. RR finished on 243/8 in their 20 overs, and when SRH went out to chase, they were dismissed for 196 in 19.2 overs.
With the win, RR now advance to Qualifier 2, where they will take on Gujarat Titans (GT) for a place in the IPL 2026 final. The matchup carries extra significance because GT were the first franchise to feel the full force of Sooryavanshi’s destructive batting last year, when he hammered a 35-ball century against them in 2025. Now, with the six-hitting record and a powerful Eliminator knock already behind him, Sooryavanshi’s momentum threatens to make his next contest against GT just as hard to contain.
