Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has once again showered praise on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following the conclusion of the IPL 2026 season. Gavaskar stated that Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary six-hitting ability would be the lasting memory he takes away from this year’s tournament.
The 15-year-old prodigy enjoyed a historic campaign, rewriting several records and emerging as the biggest talking point of IPL 2026. Despite Rajasthan Royals falling short of the title after their exit in Qualifier 2, Sooryavanshi’s performances captured the imagination of fans and experts alike.
“What I’ll remember, of course, is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi batting the way that he did, hitting 72 sixes, scoring 500 runs in the power play itself. I mean, that is a phenomenal achievement by a 15-year-old. And that just augurs well for Indian cricket in the future,” said Gavaskar to India Today.
Zaheer warns Sooryavanshi after record-breaking IPL 2026
Sooryavanshi’s numbers underline why he became the biggest talking point of the season. The teenage opener finished IPL 2026 as the Orange Cap winner after amassing 776 runs at an average of 48.50 and a staggering strike rate of 237.30.
His tally of 72 sixes shattered the previous IPL record of 59, held by Chris Gayle for more than a decade. In addition to claiming the Orange Cap, Sooryavanshi swept several individual honours, including the Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, and Super Sixes of the Season awards.
What made Sooryavanshi’s rise even more remarkable was not just the volume of runs he scored, but the fearless manner in which he dominated some of the world’s best bowlers. During a conversation with Gavaskar on the broadcaster’s post-season programme, the youngster revealed that stories about the batting legend’s bravery against the fearsome West Indies pace attacks had played a significant role in shaping his mindset.
With age firmly on his side and expectations continuing to rise, Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking campaign has strengthened the belief that Indian cricket may have unearthed its next generational batting superstar.
