Vaibhav Sooryavanshi creating ‘Gayle-level fear’, says Pathan as 59-sixes record nears

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has showered massive praise on teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the youngster is creating the same fear among bowlers that legendary T20 powerhouse Chris Gayle once did during his peak years. Pathan also believes Sooryavanshi is now genuinely threatening Gayle’s long-standing IPL record of 59 sixes in a single season.Rajasthan Royals kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, thanks to another breathtaking innings from the 15-year-old prodigy. Chasing a daunting target of 221, Sooryavanshi unleashed complete carnage, smashing 93 off just 38 balls, including seven fours and 10 towering sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 244.74. The explosive knock also helped him script history as the first Indian batter ever to hit 50 sixes in a single IPL season.Earlier in the evening, LSG had posted a massive 220/5 after a dominant opening partnership between Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis. Marsh hammered 96 off 57 deliveries, while Inglis blasted 60 off just 29 balls. Yash Raj Punia emerged as the pick of the RR bowlers with figures of 2/35.During the chase, Yashasvi Jaiswal provided early momentum, while Sooryavanshi started cautiously, scoring only five runs from his first 10 balls. But once he settled in, the teenager completely took over the contest, smashing 24 runs in one over against Akash Singh and racing to a stunning 23-ball half-century.Speaking after the match, Pathan highlighted the maturity and improved range in Sooryavanshi’s batting as the most impressive aspect of his innings.“This was unbelievable. The maturity he showed was the highlight for me. We always say whenever we watch Vaibhav Sooryavanshi that he’s a very good leg-side player, but the way he played on the off-side in this game was outstanding,” Pathan said on JioStar.“He has great control over his back-lift. He was driving over covers and even played an upper-cut over third man. It is very difficult to stop him,” he added.“In his first 10 balls, he was batting at a strike rate of less than 100, and by the end of the innings, he had scored 93 runs off just 38 balls,” Pathan noted.The former Indian all-rounder then drew a striking comparison with Chris Gayle, saying bowlers are beginning to feel the same fear against Sooryavanshi that they once experienced against the West Indies icon.“With 53 sixes, he is actually going after Chris Gayle’s record of 59 sixes, which has stood since 2012. As bowlers, we were always scared of facing Chris Gayle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is creating that same fear, and Gayle’s record is definitely in danger,” Pathan concluded.