Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has quickly become the defining headline of IPL 2026, rewriting benchmarks and drawing widespread admiration from across the cricket world. The 15-year-old has now moved past Chris Gayle’s long-standing mark for the most sixes in a single IPL campaign, cementing his status as a standout force in the tournament’s current era.
Record-breaking power and inevitable comparisons
Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise has naturally invited comparisons with some of the game’s biggest names, largely because of his rare blend of timing, audacity, and boundary-hitting consistency.
- Chris Gayle angle: The early chatter centered on Sooryavanshi’s ability to clear the ropes at will, echoing Gayle’s explosive reputation. He struck 65 sixes in the IPL season to overtake Gayle’s famous 2012 total of 59.
- Sachin Tendulkar angle: Another wave of praise has focused on his calm, technically grounded approach for such a young player—often described as “mature” and “fearless,” with a temperament that suggests he can prosper even when expectations are intense.
Tom Moody links the teenager to Don Bradman
As the conversation escalated, former Australia cricketer and coach Tom Moody took the comparisons further by invoking the name of cricket legend Don Bradman. Moody said he struggled to find a modern parallel that fully captured the scale of what Sooryavanshi has been doing.
Moody’s point was that the dominance has not just been impressive—it has been unusually extreme for the format, and he believes the closest historical reference is the gap between Bradman’s Test performances and the next-best standard.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Moody said the only sensible way to explain the phenomenon was to watch it for oneself, adding that it is something he does not recall seeing in his lifetime in T20—or even across formats. He then drew the Bradman comparison to describe the separation in class.
- Moody noted that Bradman “nearly averaged 100” in Tests, and that the drop to the next-best figure was roughly around 60—highlighting a gulf in performance levels.
- He added that he sees a similar kind of separation in T20 cricket, specifically at the age of 15, which is why he reached for the Bradman reference.
Rajasthan Royals’ teenage star’s IPL 2026 numbers
On the field, Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026 has been extraordinary for Rajasthan Royals. His run-scoring has been consistent, explosive, and high-impact across the group phase.
- He has amassed 680 runs in 15 matches.
- His strike rate stands at 242.85.
Next challenge: Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh
With a spot in Qualifier 2 at stake, Sooryavanshi’s next assignment is set to come against Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada in New Chandigarh. The contest promises a stern test of his power-hitting and composure under pressure as Rajasthan Royals look to turn their momentum into a title-stage advantage.
The IPL race for individual honours continues as well, with fans tracking the Orange Cap and Purple Cap trends alongside the tournament’s latest developments.
