Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken his IPL 2026 run to another level, etching his name in the record books during Rajasthan Royals’ meeting with Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. The 15-year-old opener became the leading Indian batter for most sixes in a single IPL season, finishing with 43 maximums—surpassing Abhishek Sharma’s prior benchmark of 42 from IPL 2024.
Quick facts
- Match: Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium (Sunday)
- Sooryavanshi’s season tally: 43 sixes (IPL 2026), most by an Indian in a single IPL season
- Previous Indian record: 42 sixes by Abhishek Sharma (IPL 2024)
- Sooryavanshi’s innings: 46 off 21 balls
- Key partnership: 70 runs with Dhruv Jurel in 34 deliveries
- Powerplay: RR reached 75/1, their second-highest Powerplay score vs DC in IPL history
- Better prior Powerplay vs DC: 79/0 at the same venue in 2018
The teenager’s latest milestone underscored the fearless brand of batting that has made him one of the standout attractions of IPL 2026. He now sits alone at the summit with 43 maximums, with Abhishek Sharma second on 42. The list of top Indian six-hitters in a season also includes Shreyas Iyer (39 in 2025), Virat Kohli (38 in both 2016 and 2024), and Suryakumar Yadav (38 in 2025).
Sooryavanshi didn’t merely get going—he set the tone immediately. Facing Lungi Ngidi, he launched the first ball he received for a six, putting Delhi under pressure from the opening moments. That early aggression paid off as Rajasthan kept their foot firmly on the accelerator, with the opener’s quick-fire hitting giving RR a strong platform.
His stay at the crease ended with a stunning knock of 46 off just 21 deliveries, but the impact he made was already firmly established. Before his dismissal, he combined with Dhruv Jurel to build a rapid 70-run stand in only 34 balls, swinging momentum clearly in Rajasthan’s favour.
Rajasthan’s aggressive intent was evident in their early momentum as well. They raced to 75/1 in the Powerplay, which stands as their second-best Powerplay total against Delhi Capitals in IPL history. The only stronger start versus DC at the same venue came back in 2018, when RR posted 79/0.
The six-hitting rhythm has become a hallmark of Sooryavanshi’s season. This was the fifth time in IPL 2026 that he began an innings with a maximum, and it marked the eighth such occurrence across his IPL career to date. The feat also placed him among a rare group of players who have managed to hit their opening ball for a six three times within the same season.
Players who hit their first ball for a six three times in a single IPL season: Shahrukh Khan (PBKS) in 2023, Sunil Narine (KKR) in 2025, Devdutt Padikkal (RCB) in 2026, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) in 2026.
With his power game continuing to redefine what an emerging youngster can do in the format, Sooryavanshi’s name is quickly becoming part of the season’s defining narrative. At just 15 years old, he is already rewriting IPL record books that once belonged primarily to some of the biggest names in T20 cricket.
