Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is closing in on an IPL milestone that could rewrite the record books. The 15-year-old is just two maximums away from becoming the Indian with the most sixes in a single IPL campaign. The mark currently stands at 42, set by Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma. Sooryavanshi moved to 40 for the season after striking three sixes in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) match against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday, a knock that also lifted him past several big names, including Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rishabh Pant.
Most sixes in an IPL season by Indians:
- 42 – Abhishek Sharma (2024)
- 40 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2026)
- 39 – Shreyas Iyer (2025)
- 38 – Virat Kohli (2016)
- 38 – Virat Kohli (2024)
- 38 – Suryakumar Yadav (2025)
- 37 – Rishabh Pant (2018)
Saturday’s fireworks didn’t stop with the IPL tally. Sooryavanshi also broke a global benchmark for power-hitting, launching a first-ball six off Mohammed Siraj to become the fastest batter to reach 100 T20 sixes. He reached the “century” of sixes in only 514 deliveries, and he did so as the youngest player to achieve the landmark.
In the same appearance, Sooryavanshi struck 36 off 16 balls, packing his effort with three sixes and three fours. Notably, every one of his three sixes arrived during the powerplay, underlining his reputation for attacking from the outset. With that burst, he also set the IPL-season record for the most sixes hit in the powerplay.
Sooryavanshi’s overall output has been just as striking in IPL 2026. He is currently the fifth-highest run-scorer in the tournament, having piled up 440 runs across 11 matches at an average of 140, with a strike rate above 236. The RR opener has already produced one century and two half-centuries this season, adding weight to a campaign that is gathering momentum week by week.
Former cricketer Aditya Tare highlighted the fearless nature of his style. “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s batting approach is high-risk, especially in the powerplay. He will sometimes get out going for big shots but that’s his natural game. He doesn’t let pressure build. He attacks from the very first ball. That’s what makes him who he is,” Tare said.
Tare also pointed to a specific innings as a blueprint for what comes next. “He scored a century against Gujarat Titans last season in Jaipur. That’s the kind of innings he needs to remember. Hopefully, he can extend those batting spells and spend more time in the middle. It is phenomenal to watch him take on the best bowlers in the league during the Powerplay,” he added.
