Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s new innovation creating 'Chris Gayle-like fear' as 14-year IPL history faces major threat

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored a stunning 93 off just 38 deliveries, including a 23-ball fifty, to help Rajasthan Royals beat Lucknow Super Giants

Updated on: May 20, 2026, 17:57:57 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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It was a scratchy start to his innings in Jaipur on Tuesday evening as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi crawled to five runs off his first eight balls. Yet, he eventually ended up with a stunning 93 off just 38 deliveries, including a 23-ball fifty, to help Rajasthan Royals beat Lucknow Super Giants and keep their playoff hopes alive. But more than the carnage itself, it was a subtle innovation in Sooryavanshi’s innings that not only impressed former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, but even drew comparisons with Chris Gayle.

Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in action (REUTERS)

Speaking on JioHotstar after the match in Jaipur, Pathan pointed out that while Sooryavanshi has largely been known as a dominant leg-side player, it was the range of shots he displayed on the off-side that stood out the most.

“This was unbelievable,” he said. “The maturity he showed was the biggest highlight for me. Whenever we watch Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, we always say he’s a very good leg-side player. But the way he played on the off-side in this game was outstanding. He has great control over his back-lift. He was playing over covers and even played an upper-cut over third man. It is very difficult to stop him.”

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During the innings, Sooryavanshi also became the youngest batter to hit 50 sixes in a single IPL season, taking his tally to 53 maximums in IPL 2026. And with Rajasthan still having one league game remaining, Pathan reckoned the opener could now break Gayle’s 14-year-old IPL record for the most sixes in a single season. The West Indies legend had smashed 59 sixes for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2012.

Pathan added: “In his first 10 balls, he was batting at a strike rate of less than 100, and by the end of the innings, he had scored 93 runs off just 38 balls. With 53 sixes, he is actually going after Chris Gayle’s record of 59 sixes, which has stood since 2012. As bowlers, we were always scared of facing Chris Gayle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is creating that same fear, and Gayle’s record is definitely in danger.”

RR will play their final league-stage match against Mumbai Indians on May 24 at the Wankhede Stadium.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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