Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Jos Buttler Backs Young Star to Break Chris Gayle’s IPL Record
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A New Force in Indian Cricket
The Indian Premier League has always been a breeding ground for exceptional talent, but rarely has a player captured the imagination of global cricket legends quite like 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. As the 2026 edition of the IPL progresses, the young Rajasthan Royals sensation has become the focal point of discussions among veterans of the game, including English star Jos Buttler and former pacer Stuart Broad.
Staggering Statistics and Unmatched Power
Sooryavanshi’s ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. Currently dominating the Orange Cap leaderboard, he has showcased a level of maturity and destructive capability that belies his tender age. In a recent episode of the podcast ‘For the Love of Cricket,’ Jos Buttler expressed pure disbelief at the youngster’s ability to clear the ropes, noting that Sooryavanshi has already smashed over 50 sixes in the current season.
Buttler, who has witnessed the RR star’s brilliance from close quarters, highlighted the statistical anomaly that is Sooryavanshi’s powerplay performance. According to the English wicketkeeper-batter, the youngster possesses a boundary-per-ball ratio of two in the powerplay, meaning he finds the fence on average every other delivery. This relentless aggression has propelled his strike rate to nearly 240, a figure that Stuart Broad jokingly described as effectively scoring 236 runs for every hundred balls faced.
Chasing the Universe Boss
The conversation inevitably turned toward the legendary Chris Gayle, who has long held the record for the most sixes in a single IPL season with 59. Sooryavanshi is currently trailing the ‘Universe Boss’ by only a handful of hits. With the Rajasthan Royals firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot, Buttler is confident that the record is well within the youngster’s reach.
“Chris Gayle—the best T20 player to ever play the game, I think, especially in terms of six-hitting—is the record holder with 59,” Buttler remarked. “So I think if Rajasthan gets through to the playoffs, then Vaibhav will definitely go past that record. Which again, it’s just another one of these mind-boggling things that he’s doing at 15 years of age.”
Staying One Step Ahead
What makes Sooryavanshi’s performance even more impressive is his tactical awareness. Despite the efforts of opposing bowling attacks to devise strategies to curb his scoring—such as the ‘bouncer and yorker’ theory—the teenager continues to find ways to dominate. Stuart Broad observed that even when teams believe they have decoded the young batter, he inevitably returns with another explosive cameo, such as a 43-off-17-ball blitz.
Buttler summarized the consensus perfectly: “He’s one step ahead of everyone.” This forward-thinking approach, combined with his raw natural ability, suggests that the cricket world is witnessing the dawn of a generational talent.
A Bright Future Ahead
As the Rajasthan Royals push deeper into the tournament, the pressure will only intensify. However, if his performances thus far are any indication, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi seems unfazed by the spotlight. He has turned what should be a nerve-wracking debut era into a statement of intent. Whether or not he claims the record from Chris Gayle this season, one thing is certain: the cricketing landscape has a new superstar, and he is only just getting started.
As fans look forward to the upcoming playoff fixtures, all eyes will be on the 15-year-old to see if he can deliver the final blows necessary to etch his name into the IPL history books permanently.
