NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s unbelievable IPL 2026 season reached another level after the 15-year-old smashed 97 off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. The Rajasthan Royals batter hammered 12 sixes during his explosive innings and broke Chris Gayle’s long-standing record for most sixes in a single IPL season, taking his tally to 65 maximums.The stunning knock helped Rajasthan Royals defeat SRH by 47 runs and qualify for Qualifier 2. Soon after the match, several cricket legends and public figures flooded social media with praise for the teenage sensation.Sachin Tendulkar admired the youngster’s batting technique and composure. “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s bat swing has been outstanding. What’s even more remarkable is how beautifully he clears his front foot to create room for balls aimed at his legs,” Sachin wrote, calling the innings “nothing short of spectacular!”Yuvraj Singh described Sooryavanshi as “unbelievable,” while Suresh Raina called him proof that “Indian future is in safe hands”. Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop praised the “rare quality” of his strokeplay.Mohammad Kaif also hailed the teenager, saying, “We are seeing a miracle, we are seeing a future star, we are seeing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the wonder boy.”Former England captain Michael Vaughan made perhaps the boldest statement, writing: “He is the best T20 opener in the World .. India have to pick him …”Sooryavanshi’s fearless batting has made him the breakout star of IPL 2026. Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers praised his calmness under pressure, saying, “That level of game awareness in a knockout match is remarkable for someone so young”.Anil Kumble added that pressure “simply doesn’t seem to affect him,” while Kagiso Rabada admitted the youngster’s fearless approach was fascinating to watch.Even politician P Chidambaram joined the praise, calling the innings “spectacular”. With every match, Sooryavanshi continues to build a reputation as one of cricket’s brightest young talents.
