Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Claims Can’t Care Less About Chris Gayle – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Misses Fastest Century but Breaks Chris Gayle’s Historic Sixes Record

A Masterclass in New Chandigarh: Sooryavanshi Explodes on the Big Stage

The IPL playoffs have always been a breeding ground for future superstars, but few could have predicted the sheer storm that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unleashed in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. Playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in New Chandigarh, the young opener put on a batting exhibition that will be remembered for years to come. In an innings defined by pure audacity and pristine timing, Sooryavanshi bludgeoned his way to 97 runs off just 29 deliveries, hitting 5 boundaries and an astonishing 12 sixes.

His explosive knock at the top of the order did more than just propel Rajasthan Royals into the second qualifier; it kept the capacity crowd in New Chandigarh on their feet. Every bowler SRH captain deployed found themselves at the receiving end of Sooryavanshi’s wrath. However, amidst the celebration, there was a touch of heartbreak as the youngster missed out on rewriting one of the most coveted records in T20 cricket history.

The Agony of a Missed Milestone: Chasing Chris Gayle’s Ghost

As the runs flowed from Sooryavanshi’s bat, cricket historians and fans quickly realized that a historic milestone was within reach. The all-time record for the fastest century in Indian Premier League history belonged to the legendary Chris Gayle, who reached the triple-figure mark in just 30 balls during his historic knock in 2013.

Sooryavanshi was batting on a colossal 97 runs from 28 deliveries. He was just one hit away from securing a 29-ball century, which would have officially broken the legendary West Indian’s record. Facing Praful Hinge on his 29th delivery, the young prodigy attempted an upper cut to clear the boundary ropes and seal his hundred. Unfortunately, the connection was not as clean as his previous strokes, and the ball flew straight into the hands of Ravichandran Smaran. The dismissal brought a sudden end to an epic innings, leaving him just three runs short of a well-deserved century.

“Centuries Will Keep Happening” – A Mature Response from a 15-Year-Old

Despite missing out on the fastest hundred in IPL history, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi displayed maturity far beyond his 15 years. Following the conclusion of the match, the opener admitted that he was completely unaware of the record during his time at the crease. He only found out about how close he was to eclipsing Chris Gayle’s record after returning to the dugout.

Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Sooryavanshi made it clear that personal accolades come second to team success. He stated:

“Mere 100s lagte rahenge. I found out only after I got out. At that time, my only focus was to contribute as much as I could because centuries will keep happening, but right now the focus is on how to win the trophy.”

This team-first attitude highlights the incredible mental strength of the young batter, who remains entirely focused on bringing the IPL 2026 silverware home to Rajasthan.

Eclipsing the Universe Boss: The Sixes Record Shattered

While the fastest-century record eluded him, Sooryavanshi did not leave the field empty-handed in terms of historic achievements. By launching 12 massive sixes into the New Chandigarh sky, the Rajasthan Royals opener officially broke Chris Gayle’s long-standing record for the most sixes hit by a batsman in a single edition of the tournament.

Back in the IPL 2012 season, Chris Gayle, playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), struck 59 sixes and accumulated 733 runs. Sooryavanshi’s performance in the Eliminator pushed his personal tournament tally to an unbelievable 65 sixes, comfortably surpassing Gayle’s fourteen-year-old milestone and setting a new gold standard for power-hitting in the IPL.

Rajasthan Royals Dominate Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator

Sooryavanshi’s batting heroics laid a monumental foundation for the Rajasthan Royals, who posted a massive total of 243-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Dhruv Jurel also played a vital role in the middle overs, smashing a blistering 50 runs off just 21 balls at the number three spot to keep the pressure on the Hyderabad bowlers. Among the SRH bowling lineup, Praful Hinge was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with three wickets, which included the prized scalps of both Sooryavanshi and RR skipper Riyan Parag.

Chasing a mammoth target of 244, Sunrisers Hyderabad started aggressively with opener Ishan Kishan blasting 33 runs off just 11 deliveries. However, the scoreboard pressure eventually took its toll. The Rajasthan Royals bowling unit struck at regular intervals to dismantle the chase. Jofra Archer led the attack with figures of 3-58, while Nandre Burger (2-26), Sushant Mishra (2-21), and the experienced Ravindra Jadeja (2-21) combined effectively to bowl out SRH for 196 runs, securing a comprehensive victory for the Royals.

Up Next: Qualifier 2 Against Gujarat Titans

With this statement victory, the Rajasthan Royals have kept their title dreams alive and moved one step closer to the grand finale. They are now scheduled to lock horns with the formidable Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2026 playoffs. This high-stakes encounter is set to take place on Friday, May 29, at the same venue in New Chandigarh, where all eyes will once again be on the young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to see if he can carry his explosive form forward.