After dismantling bowling attacks in the IPL and in tournaments around the globe, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has now set a bold, almost record-chasing goal: to become the first batter to reach a double century in T20 cricket. The 15-year-old’s sights are fixed on one of the format’s most famous numbers—Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 175—believing that the long-standing mark could finally be under genuine threat.
Gayle’s 175 remains the highest individual score ever seen in T20 cricket. The West Indies great produced that brutal innings for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors India during the 2013 IPL season. More than a decade has passed since then, and the record is still intact, but Sooryavanshi’s public intent is clear: he wants to push beyond it.
Quick facts
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi aims to be the first player to score 200 in T20 cricket
- His target record is Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 175, the highest individual T20 score
- Sooryavanshi said he wants to break the record and reach 200 after playing a full 20-over innings
- He has already come close twice, including a 190 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
- He also made 175 in the Under-19 World Cup final
Sooryavanshi laid out his ambition in conversation with Kevin Pietersen on the latest episode of “The Switch.” When Pietersen reminded him that “Chris Gayle’s got 175,” Sooryavanshi immediately doubled down. “Yeah, I want to break his record and score 200,” he said, adding that if he gets the full 20 overs in any game, he “definitely” expects to go after the mark.
Sooryavanshi’s near-misses
He has already tested the 200 barrier twice in his career so far. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he struck 190 for Bihar, showing he can pile on runs even in a competitive domestic setting. Earlier, he posted 175 in the final of the Under-19 World Cup, which demonstrated that the ability to play a monster innings is not just a one-off.
In T20s specifically, his current personal best stands at 144. Even so, there is a strong case that the step from 144 to something historic is possible, especially given how quickly his big-hitting has evolved. Sooryavanshi’s recent track record suggests he is building the kind of innings-building temperament required for a double-century attempt.
Last November, against the UAE in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup, he recorded the joint third-fastest century by an Indian in T20 cricket. That knock also placed him among respected company, with his century comparable to the elite group that includes Rishabh Pant, Abhishek Sharma and Urvil Patel.
With more T20 tours and opportunities ahead, Sooryavanshi is clearly trying to climb towards T20’s highest batting Everest. The ambition is not just about scoring quickly—it’s about turning pace into a total that can realistically push the game’s boundaries.
Inspired by double-century history
The pursuit of a double-century has its own mythology in limited-overs cricket. Back in 2010, when it still felt out of reach, Sachin Tendulkar rewrote the record book by becoming the first man to score a double century in ODI cricket—an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in Gwalior.
Sixteen years later, Sooryavanshi—already drawing comparisons to Tendulkar because of his standout talent and rising profile—has fixed his gaze on a similar summit. Last year, he powered his way to 143 against England U19, reaching his century in just 52 balls. That was the fastest hundred ever recorded in Youth ODI cricket.
After that match, even though he was not aware of the specific record at the time, he revealed what truly drove him. He said his real ambition was to eventually breach the 200-run mark, adding that he would try to score 200 in the next match and aim to bat through the full 50 overs. The message was simple: the more he scores, the more the team benefits.
