Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unleashes carnage vs CSK, outguns Chris Gayle with jaw-dropping 15-ball fifty

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed five sixes and four boundaries to reach his half-century in just 15 balls.

Published on: Mar 30, 2026, 22:31:49 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, all of 15, unleashed mayhem at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Monday, leaving onlookers stunned with his raw power that single-handedly crushed Chennai Super Kings’ hopes in the IPL 2026 clash.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot during an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 T20 cricket match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings (PTI)

The prodigy smashed five sixes and four boundaries to reach his half-century in just 15 balls. It marked his fastest fifty in the tournament, bettering his previous best of a 17-ball effort against the Gujarat Titans in Jaipur last year. The knock is now the second-fastest by a Rajasthan Royals batter, behind Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 13-ball blitz against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023.

It also saw him surpass Chris Gayle, whose fastest IPL fifty came in 17 balls during his iconic 175-run knock against Pune Warriors in 2013. Vaibhav now joins an elite list alongside Yusuf Pathan, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran and Jake Fraser-McGurk.

RR vs CSK LIVE Score, IPL 2026

As jaw-dropping as the knock was—Vaibhav finished with 52 off 17 balls at a strike rate of 305—the 15-year-old had a shaky start and looked far from in control early on. In the opening over of Rajasthan’s chase, Matt Henry induced a chance, but Kartik Sharma dropped it at mid-wicket, parrying the ball to the boundary. Despite the early reprieve, Vaibhav showed no change in approach, smashing the very next delivery for a six over the same region.

Vaibhav had enjoyed a sensational breakout season last year, scoring 252 runs in seven matches at a staggering strike rate of 252, including a 35-ball century—the second-fastest in IPL history. He carried that form into junior cricket as well, headlined by a blistering 175 off just 80 balls against England in the recent U-19 World Cup final, where India clinched their sixth title.

While many warned of the so-called “second-season syndrome,” where opponents come better prepared with plans, Vaibhav’s knock against Chennai showed he is ready to tear up that script.

Earlier, a clinical bowling display from Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger and Ravindra Jadeja, who picked up two wickets each, bundled Chennai out for 127.

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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