IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks Gayle's T20 sixes record with 61 hits
Synopsis
A 15-year-old from Bihar just erased a record that survived 14 years of T20's most ferocious power-hitters. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 61 sixes in IPL 2026 surpass Chris Gayle's iconic 2012 benchmark — and his 600-run haul makes him the highest-scoring teenager in T20 tournament history. This is not a breakout; it is a generational arrival.
Key Takeaways
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the first player in T20 history to hit 61 sixes in a single tournament, during the IPL 2026 Eliminator on 27 May 2026 .
He surpassed Chris Gayle's record of 59 sixes for RCB in the 2012 IPL season — a mark that stood for 14 years .
Sooryavanshi also crossed 600 runs in 15 matches , making him the first teenager to reach that milestone in a single T20 tournament.
His tally eclipses Devdutt Padikkal's previous teenage T20 record of 580 runs set in the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy .
Tilak Varma ( 397 runs , IPL 2022) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius ( 397 runs , SA20 2024-25) are now third and fourth on the all-time teenage T20 runs list.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals opener, rewrote T20 history on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, becoming the first batter in the world to smash 61 sixes in a single T20 tournament during the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh. The feat erases a landmark that had stood for 14 years — Chris Gayle's tally of 59 sixes for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the iconic 2012 IPL season.
The Record That Fell
Gayle's benchmark of 59 sixes in a single IPL campaign had survived more than a decade of power-hitting evolution, outlasting the T20 revolution, the rise of franchise cricket worldwide, and a generation of ultra-aggressive batters. Sooryavanshi, a left-hander from Bihar, crossed that mark in the Eliminator, finishing the milestone against one of the tournament's most potent bowling attacks. The record stood untouched since 2012 — until Wednesday night.
600 Runs and a Teenage Milestone
The sixes record is only part of the story. Sooryavanshi has also crossed 600 runs in 15 matches this season, making him the first teenager in history to score 600 runs in a single T20 tournament. That tally surpasses Devdutt Padikkal's previous benchmark of 580 runs for Karnataka in the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy — a record set in domestic cricket, now eclipsed on the IPL's biggest stage.
Where He Stands Among Teenage Greats
Sooryavanshi now leads the all-time list for most runs by a teenager in a T20 tournament. Mumbai Indians batter Tilak Varma, who scored 397 runs in IPL 2022, is now third on that list. South Africa's Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who posted 397 runs for Paarl Royals in the 2024-25 SA20 season, also falls below Sooryavanshi's total. The Bihar teenager has overtaken a roll-call that includes England's Will Smeed, France's Gustav McKeon, and Indian stalwarts Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw.
Match Context: Eliminator Setup
Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and elected to bowl first in the Eliminator at New Chandigarh. Sunrisers made one change to their XI, bringing in Praful Hinge in place of Salil Arora. Rajasthan Royals also adjusted their combination, with Ravindra Jadeja replacing Shubham Dubey in the starting lineup.
What Comes Next
With Sooryavanshi's records still being written in real time, attention now turns to whether Rajasthan Royals can advance from the Eliminator. Should they progress, the teenager will have further opportunity to extend his extraordinary tally. Regardless of the tournament's outcome, Sooryavanshi's IPL 2026 campaign has already placed him in a category occupied by very few players in the sport's history.
Point of View
Which is either inspired or reckless depending on what happens when opposition sides produce a specific plan against him in the next fortnight. Sooryavanshi's numbers are historic, but the real test of his genius will be how he responds once every bowling unit in the world has studied his method.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi break in IPL 2026?
Sooryavanshi became the first player in T20 history to hit 61 sixes in a single tournament, surpassing Chris Gayle's record of 59 sixes set during the 2012 IPL season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The feat came during the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 27 May 2026.
How old is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and which team does he play for?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is 15 years old and plays as an opener for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. He is from Bihar.
What is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's run tally in IPL 2026?
Sooryavanshi has scored 600 runs in 15 matches in IPL 2026, making him the first teenager in history to reach 600 runs in a single T20 tournament. His tally surpasses Devdutt Padikkal's previous teenage T20 record of 580 runs in the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Who held the record for most sixes in a single T20 tournament before Sooryavanshi?
Chris Gayle held the record with 59 sixes for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during the 2012 IPL season. That record stood for 14 years before Sooryavanshi broke it in the IPL 2026 Eliminator.
What were the team changes for the IPL 2026 Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals?
Sunrisers Hyderabad brought in Praful Hinge in place of Salil Arora, while Rajasthan Royals replaced Shubham Dubey with Ravindra Jadeja. Sunrisers won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
