Anil Kumble Praises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Record-Breaking Potential in IPL 2026

Anil Kumble has praised the young cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his remarkable performance in IPL 2026, where he scored 93 runs off 38 balls. Kumble believes Sooryavanshi has the potential to break Chris Gayle's record for the most sixes in a single IPL season. With 53 sixes already, the 15-year-old is making waves in the cricketing world. The Rajasthan Royals secured a seven-wicket victory against the Lucknow Super Giants, with Sooryavanshi's explosive batting playing a crucial role. This article delves into Kumble's insights and the match recap.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 20, 2026, 18:17 IST

Kumble Applauds Young Talent

Renowned Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has expressed admiration for the young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, commending his exceptional power-hitting skills and maturity. Kumble believes Sooryavanshi has the potential to surpass Chris Gayle's record for the most sixes in a single Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Kumble highlighted the 15-year-old's fearless batting style, particularly during the Rajasthan Royals' (RR) chase against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur on Tuesday night. Sooryavanshi delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 93 runs off just 38 balls, leading the Royals to successfully chase a daunting target of 221 runs in 19.1 overs during the IPL 2026 match against LSG.

A Bright Future Ahead

Kumble emphasized Sooryavanshi's composure and awareness at such a young age, which distinguishes him in contemporary cricket. He remarked, "Few players can hit sixes over cover with such finesse, but Vaibhav did it multiple times against Digvesh Rathi. It's refreshing to see such talent, and I find myself running out of words to describe him. This young man is truly exceptional. His mindset is particularly noteworthy; he speaks with a maturity that is rare for his age, especially given the attention he is receiving. He recognizes that this is merely the beginning of his journey."

Chasing a Historic Record

Sooryavanshi has made history by becoming the first Indian player to hit 50 sixes in a single IPL season, currently boasting 53 sixes in the 2026 season. The leaderboard for the most sixes in an IPL season is topped by Chris Gayle with 59 in 2012, followed by Sooryavanshi with 53*, Andre Russell with 52 in 2019, and Chris Gayle with 51 in 2013.

Kumble noted, "After the match, he stated, 'This is the start of my journey. If my journey is long enough, I will create a few of these records.' With 53 sixes already this season, he is on track to challenge Gayle's record. The Royals have one more league match and then the playoffs, providing Sooryavanshi with additional opportunities to shine. I can envision him breaking Gayle's record and making history."

IPL 2026: Match Summary of RR vs LSG

In the match, LSG set a formidable total of 220/5 after being invited to bat first by the Royals. The innings was propelled by a dynamic opening partnership between Josh Inglis and Mitchell Marsh. LSG reached 83/0 during the powerplay, marking their fourth-highest score of the season. Inglis scored a rapid 60 runs, while Marsh contributed significantly with 96 runs off 57 balls. Late innings contributions from captain Rishabh Pant helped LSG surpass the 200-run mark, although both he and Marsh were run out in the final over.

For RR, Yash Raj Punja took 2 wickets for 35 runs, while Jofra Archer claimed one wicket. In response, Sooryavanshi's explosive 93 runs off just 38 balls, featuring 10 sixes and 7 fours, along with Jurel's quickfire 53 runs off 38 balls, led the Royals to a convincing seven-wicket victory.

With this win, RR has moved up to the 4th position in the IPL points table, accumulating 14 points.