Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Jos Buttler Backs RR Star to Break Chris Gayle’s Six-Hitting Record
The Rise of a New T20 Phenom
In the high-stakes arena of the Indian Premier League, few players manage to capture the imagination of the cricketing world as quickly as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The Rajasthan Royals star has redefined expectations this season, delivering power-hitting performances that have stunned veterans of the game. With his eyes firmly set on history, the 15-year-old is now on the cusp of eclipsing the legendary Chris Gayle in a record that many once thought was insurmountable.
Buttler and Broad in Awe
During a recent episode of the podcast ‘For the Love of Cricket,’ English star Jos Buttler and former pace bowler Stuart Broad delved into the sheer brilliance of Sooryavanshi. Both were unanimous in their assessment: the youngster is playing a different game entirely.
Buttler, who has witnessed the carnage from close quarters, highlighted the statistical anomaly that is Sooryavanshi’s season. “Our friend Vaibhav smashed a few sixes again last night—93 off 38. He’s now hit the most sixes for sure by an Indian player in an IPL. He’s over 50 sixes in the season. And I think it’s only Gayle who’s just ahead of him with maybe one or two more sixes for the all-time record for a season,” Buttler noted.
Dominance in the Powerplay
The efficiency of the RR star is arguably the most frightening aspect of his game. Buttler pointed out that Sooryavanshi’s ability to find the boundary in the opening overs is unprecedented. “I’ve watched him bat in the powerplay. The stats are crazy. Balls per boundary in the powerplay are two. So every other ball, he hits a four or a six,” he explained.
This aggressive intent has resulted in a strike rate hovering near 240. Stuart Broad, known for his incisive analytical mind during his playing days, humorously observed that such a strike rate essentially equates to “236 runs for every hundred balls he faces,” a figure that underscores the absurdity of the teenager’s current form.
Chasing Down the Universe Boss
The record in question—59 sixes in a single IPL season—has been held by the iconic Chris Gayle for years. Gayle is widely regarded as the most destructive T20 batter in history, making Sooryavanshi’s pursuit of this milestone all the more significant. With 53 sixes already under his belt and the Rajasthan Royals looking strong for a playoff berth, the opportunity for Sooryavanshi to overtake the record is well within his reach.
“If Rajasthan gets through to the playoffs, then Vaibhav will definitely go past that record,” Buttler added. “Which again, it’s just another one of these mind-boggling things that he’s doing at 15 years of age.”
A Mindset One Step Ahead
One of the greatest challenges for any young talent is adapting to the plans that opposing teams devise. Yet, Sooryavanshi seems to remain unfazed. Broad shared an insight into the frustration of bowling sides trying to contain the prodigy: “Every time he gets going, it’s like, ‘He’s off again—43 off 17.’ And then it comes back, ‘I thought we’d worked him out—the bouncer and yorker theory.’”
Ultimately, it is his tactical awareness that sets him apart. According to Buttler, the reason for his consistent success is simple: “He’s one step ahead of everyone.” As the business end of the IPL 2026 season approaches, all eyes will be on the Rajasthan Royals’ dressing room to see if their young superstar can etch his name into the history books alongside the greats of the format.
