Rajasthan Royals’ batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi came agonisingly close to creating IPL history on Wednesday, missing out on the fastest century in Indian Premier League history by just one ball during his side’s Eliminator clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The 15-year-old, playing only his second season in the tournament, was dismissed for 97 off 29 balls after falling just short of a memorable three-figure mark. He was one hit away from the milestone when he attempted an upper cut off Praful Hinge, only to be caught at deep third man by R Smaran.

Sooryavanshi’s explosive knock included 12 sixes and five boundaries, showcasing remarkable power-hitting in a high-pressure playoff match.

The record for the fastest IPL century remains with Chris Gayle, who reached the landmark in 30 balls while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors in 2013, during his iconic 175 off 66 balls that included 17 sixes and 13 fours.

Despite missing the century, Sooryavanshi created history by surpassing Gayle’s record for most sixes in a single IPL season. Coming into the match six sixes behind Gayle’s tally of 59 (set in 2012), the young batter’s 12 maximums took him to 65 sixes in IPL 2026, the highest in the season.

His tally comfortably placed him ahead of the next best, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma, who finished with 43 sixes.

Sooryavanshi had already impressed earlier in the tournament, registering the second-fastest IPL century in IPL 2025 when he scored 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans. He also holds the third-fastest century in IPL history with a 37-ball 103 against SRH earlier this season.

Cricketing greats were quick to praise the teenager’s extraordinary knock. Sachin Tendulkar lauded his bat swing and ability to create room, calling the innings “spectacular”.

Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop described the quality of his strokes as “rare”, while Mohammad Kaif called him a “miracle” and a “future star” in a widely shared post on X.

Kevin Pietersen also expressed his amazement at Sooryavanshi’s hitting, calling him “an absolute joke” in admiration of his power play.

India’s Yuvraj Singh celebrated the youngster breaking Gayle’s six-hitting record, calling him a “boss baby” and praising his unbelievable achievement at just 15.

Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya also hailed him as a “very special talent”, noting his confidence and composure at such a young age.