Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Claims Can’t Care Less About Chris Gayle – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Explosive 97: IPL Record Near Miss & Sixes Record Broken

In a display of sheer cricketing brilliance that has sent ripples across the cricketing world, young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi almost etched his name into the annals of IPL history with a blistering performance in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. Representing the Rajasthan Royals, the 15-year-old opener unleashed an unparalleled assault on the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers, guiding his team to a crucial victory and a berth in Qualifier 2. His innings, however, was significant not just for its impact on the match, but for the records it challenged and ultimately broke, cementing his status as a future superstar of the game.

Sooryavanshi’s Near Miss: The Fastest Century Record

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s electrifying knock of 97 runs from a mere 29 deliveries captivated audiences in New Chandigarh. The blistering innings, punctuated by five boundaries and an astonishing twelve sixes, propelled the Rajasthan Royals to a formidable total. What made this innings particularly memorable was its proximity to an all-time IPL record: the fastest-ever century, a benchmark set by the legendary Chris Gayle.

Gayle’s record, a monumental 30-ball hundred, has stood as a testament to explosive batting. Sooryavanshi, unknowingly chasing this very record, found himself tantalizingly close. Batting on 97* off 28 balls, the stage was set for a historic moment. However, his attempted upper cut off Praful Hinge on the 29th ball was caught by Ravichandran Smaran, bringing an end to an innings that deserved a century. Had that ball cleared the ropes for a boundary, Sooryavanshi would have reached a 29-ball century, thereby surpassing Gayle’s long-standing record by a single delivery. The cricketing fraternity held its breath, only to witness the young talent fall agonizingly short, a mere three runs away from creating an unprecedented milestone.

A Focus Beyond Personal Milestones

Despite missing out on what would have been a rare and significant individual IPL record, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi displayed a remarkable maturity and focus during the post-match presentation. The 15-year-old admitted that he was unaware of approaching Chris Gayle’s fastest century record, only realizing the magnitude of the milestone after his dismissal. His comments underscored a team-first mentality that belies his tender age.

When questioned about the record, Sooryavanshi 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 statement perfectly encapsulates the young opener’s dedication to the Rajasthan Royals’ campaign, emphasizing that collective success far outweighs individual accolades in his eyes. His singular objective remains to lift the coveted IPL 2026 silverware for his franchise, a goal that resonated deeply with fans and pundits alike.

The Chris Gayle Record Sooryavanshi DID Break

While the fastest century record eluded him on this occasion, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did indeed manage to break another significant Chris Gayle IPL record, showcasing his incredible power-hitting prowess. In his devastating innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Sooryavanshi bombarded the opposition bowlers with an astounding 12 sixes. This remarkable display of boundary-hitting pushed his IPL 2026 season tally to an incredible 65 maximums.

This achievement surpasses the record previously held by Chris Gayle, who, in the 2012 edition of the IPL while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, struck 59 sixes throughout the tournament. Gayle’s season was legendary, where he aggregated 733 runs, but even the ‘Universe Boss’ could not match the sheer volume of sixes Sooryavanshi has managed to accumulate in a single season. Breaking a record held by a player of Gayle’s stature, particularly in the realm of six-hitting, is a profound statement from the young Rajasthan Royals opener and highlights his exceptional ability to clear the ropes with ease and consistency.

Rajasthan Royals Dominate Sunrisers Hyderabad in Eliminator

The high-stakes Eliminator clash saw the Rajasthan Royals bat first, posting a mammoth total of 243-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Beyond Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s sensational 29-ball 97, the Royals’ batting lineup received another significant boost from Dhruv Jurel. Coming in at number three, Jurel unleashed his own brand of destructive batting, smashing 50 runs from just 21 balls, further accelerating the innings and putting immense pressure on the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers.

For SRH, fast bowler Praful Hinge emerged as the most successful bowler, picking up three crucial wickets in an otherwise challenging outing for his team. His victims included the explosive Sooryavanshi and the Rajasthan Royals captain, Riyan Parag, but his efforts could not stem the flow of runs sufficiently.

Chasing a daunting target of 244, Sunrisers Hyderabad started their innings with intent, largely thanks to a cracking 11-ball 33 from opener Ishan Kishan. However, their momentum was consistently disrupted by regular strikes from the Rajasthan Royals’ bowling attack. The pace and guile of Jofra Archer (3-58), combined with the disciplined performances of Nandre Burger (2-26), Sushant Mishra (2-21), and the spin wizardry of Ravindra Jadeja (2-21), proved too much for the SRH batting line-up. The collective effort of the Royals’ bowlers ensured that the entire Sunrisers Hyderabad innings was enveloped for just 196 runs, securing a comprehensive victory for Rajasthan.

Path Forward: Qualifier 2 Awaits

With this emphatic win, the Rajasthan Royals have successfully navigated the Eliminator and advanced to Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2026 season. Their next challenge will be against the formidable Gujarat Titans, a match scheduled to take place on Friday, May 29, in New Chandigarh. The momentum from Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking, albeit near-miss, innings and the team’s dominant performance against SRH will provide a significant confidence boost as they aim for a spot in the grand finale. The cricketing world will be eagerly watching to see if this young Royals side, spearheaded by their prodigious talent, can continue their impressive run and ultimately achieve their goal of lifting the IPL trophy.