Sooryavanshi's Remarkable IPL Performance
Teenage cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered another outstanding performance by scoring 97 runs off just 29 balls during the Indian Premier League eliminator match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The 15-year-old displayed incredible power-hitting, striking 12 sixes, including a sequence of three consecutive sixes off Australia captain Pat Cummins, before being dismissed in the eighth over.
After hitting boundaries on seven consecutive deliveries, Sooryavanshi had a chance to break Chris Gayle's record for the fastest IPL century with one ball remaining but was caught at deep third attempting an upper cut.
Having reached his half-century in only 16 balls, Sooryavanshi appeared visibly disappointed on the field but received congratulations from his opponents and a standing ovation from the crowd.
At that point, his Rajasthan Royals team stood at 125-1 after eight overs, with his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal, an established India international across formats, on 25 runs from 20 balls at the other end.
"What an innings. What a player," said India legend Sunil Gavaskar, commentating.
"That is an innings to remember. An innings to savour."
Records and Rankings
Sooryavanshi's innings propelled him to the top of the run-scorers' list in this IPL season.
His seventh six, struck in the fourth over, broke the record for the most sixes in a single IPL season, surpassing the previous record of 59 held by former West Indies international Chris Gayle.
Rising Star's Journey
Sooryavanshi first gained attention in April 2025 when he hit his first ball in the IPL at age 14. Later that season, he became the youngest player to score a T20 century.
Earlier this year, he scored an extraordinary 175 runs in the Under-19 World Cup final against England and recorded his second IPL century this season, reaching 100 in 36 deliveries, also against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
He has been selected for the India A squad for a 50-over tri-series in Sri Lanka next month. However, many cricket experts suggest he should be included in the full national side's white-ball tour of England this summer.
"He is the best T20 opener in the world. India have to pick him," former England captain Michael Vaughan posted on X on Wednesday.
