NEW DELHI: Teen prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi kept the momentum rolling in IPL 2026 on Tuesday, etching his name into history by becoming the first Indian batter to reach 50 sixes in a single tournament season. The 15-year-old achieved the milestone during a high-voltage innings for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, smashing 93 off 38 balls to ignite the chase and leave the crowd buzzing.
Sooryavanshi’s historic six-hitting spree
Sooryavanshi’s knock was a full-throttle display of power and timing, featuring seven fours and 10 maximums. His strike rate of 244.74 underlined the brutality of his approach as he dismantled the Lucknow bowling attack with fearless strokeplay. Although he fell short of a sensational century, the innings still stood out as one of the defining knocks of the season.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the first Indian batter to hit 50 sixes in an IPL season (reaching the mark during IPL 2026).
- His 93-run knock came off 38 balls, including 7 fours and 10 sixes (strike rate: 244.74).
- He is now second on the all-time list for most sixes in a single IPL season, with 53 maximums.
- He trails only Chris Gayle’s 59 sixes from the 2012 season.
- His tally has already surpassed major power-hitters such as Andre Russell, Jos Buttler, and Abhishek Sharma.
How the sixes list shapes up
The teenager’s surge has placed him among the biggest names in IPL history for single-season big-hitting. With his current total, Sooryavanshi is clearly closing in on the benchmark set by Gayle.
- 59 — Chris Gayle (2012)
- 53* — Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2026)
- 52 — Andre Russell (2019)
- 51 — Chris Gayle (2013)
- 45 — Jos Buttler (2022)
- 44 — Chris Gayle (2011)
- 42 — Abhishek Sharma (2024)
Rajasthan’s chase: from early momentum to a sudden end
The innings unfolded in a tense chase after Lucknow posted a challenging total of 220/5, built around a ruthless 96 from Mitchell Marsh and a quick 60 from Josh Inglis. Rajasthan, needing a strong response in a must-win game to keep their playoff chances alive, received a rapid start when Yashasvi Jaiswal struck 43 quickly and powered the side to 75 inside seven overs.
From there, Sooryavanshi completely changed gears. He dominated both pace and spin, attacking relentlessly and repeatedly forcing the stadium to rise with boundaries across the ground. His ability to keep the scoring rate climbing helped Rajasthan stay in the hunt, even as the required run-rate remained unforgiving.
- Lucknow set a target of 220/5, with Mitchell Marsh scoring 96 and Josh Inglis contributing 60.
- Rajasthan’s chase began with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 43, taking the team to 75 inside seven overs.
- Sooryavanshi then accelerated dramatically, smashing through both pace and spin.
- The innings ended in the 14th over when Mohsin Khan deceived him with a slower delivery.
- Sooryavanshi attempted another big hit but mistimed the shot; he was caught by Abdul Samad at long-on.
Season impact and standout strike-rate numbers
Even without reaching three figures, the knock further cemented Sooryavanshi’s reputation as one of the most exciting young prospects in Indian cricket. His rise has been reflected not only in six-hitting, but also in the sheer tempo he brings to the crease.
His current season is also headlined by one of the best strike-rate marks in IPL history among batters meeting the minimum run requirement of 500-plus.
- 236.3 — Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2026)*
- 204.8 — Andre Russell (2019)
- 202.0 — Abhishek Sharma (2026)
- 196.2 — Nicholas Pooran (2025)
- 191.5 — Travis Head (2024)
- 187.7 — Glenn Maxwell (2014)
- 183.1 — Chris Gayle (2011)
Despite missing out on a match-defining hundred, Sooryavanshi’s 93 provided the kind of electricity that turns a chase on its head—confirming he is not just a rising name, but already one of the brightest young stars to emerge in recent years.
