Vaibahv Sooryavanshi Abhishek Sharma. Image Credits: AFP
The IPL 2026 has seen Vaibhav Sooryavanshi break records left, right and centre throughout the season as the left-handed opener has taken the Rajasthan Royals to Qualifier 2. He put on a spectacle in Mullanpur against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday and scored 97 off 29 to brush the opponent aside comprehensively.
Before falling 3 short of a magical century, the prodigy had an epic opportunity to score the fastest IPL century, beating Chris Gayle’s 14-year-old record. However, despite falling short, the former England captain Michael Vaughan has openly lauded Sooryavnshi and asked for further recognition for the performances.
England Legend Labels Sooryavanshi as Best in the World
In the aftermath of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi'S missed century, Will Macpherson on Twitter (X) pointed out the unprecedented numbers produced by the RR opener in the Eliminator and IPL 2026.
He noted that Sooryavanshi had hit 8 sixes in the first 16 balls of the match, while also surpassing Chris Gayle’s record of most sixes in a season (59), created back in 2012.
Reacting to the stats, Michael Vaughan went a step further and felt Sooryavanshi is the best T20 batter in the world and India can’t keep a talent like him out for too long, as they head into a new T20 World Cup cycle.
“He is the best T20 opener in the World. India have to pick him,” he wrote on his Twitter (X).
Also Read: Which Teams Bid For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In IPL Auction Before RR Bought Him?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi chases history
At just 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already won the U19 World Cup with India, scoring a magnificent 175 in the final with a single-handed domination over England. Now, he is ineligible to play for India U19 again as per the BCCI policies.
He has also been picked in the India A team for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka and finds himself really close to making his India senior debut. Currently, he is poised to beat Sachin Tendulkar’s record as the youngest Indian debutant, among male players with over a year in his hand.
With two matches of IPL 2026 left, he is also leading the Orange Cap race, with 680 runs in 15 innings, scoring at a strike rate of 242.85, with four fifties and a hundred. If he remains at the top by the end of the season, he will also become the youngest Orange Cap winner, beating Sai Sudharsan’s record of 23 years and 231 days.
Can RR end their IPL trophy hiatus?
Throughout the IPL 2026 season, the inaugural IPL winners have shown a lot of promise under the new leadership of Riyan Parag and Kumar Sangakkara. Despite hitting a bump in the road and needing a win on the final day to qualify, they are within touching distance of the final.
While Yashasvi Jaiswal has struggled for form in the season, Sooryavanshi has managed to carry the batting line-up really well, while the fiery Jofra Archer leads the bowling. If this duo continues to click for them, it is a genuine possibility that RR could win their first IPL since 2008.
Also Read: Pakistan Team Owner Reacts To Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Mayhem vs SRH
