Jaipur: In a remarkable display of ambition and confidence, teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has set his sights on rewriting T20 cricket history. The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals (RR) prodigy has openly declared his intention not only to surpass Chris Gayle’s iconic record of 175*, the highest individual score in T20 cricket, but also to achieve an unprecedented milestone — becoming the first batter to score a double century in the format.

Speaking on former England captain Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube show The Switch, Sooryavanshi revealed his fearless mindset. When asked about celebrating personal milestones like half-centuries, the youngster responded with maturity beyond his years, stating that such achievements do not excite him much. Instead, his focus remains firmly on setting new benchmarks. “I want to score 200 in T20s. I want to break Gayle’s record,” he said.

Chasing a monumental benchmark

Gayle’s unbeaten 175 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) season remains one of the most iconic innings in cricket history. The West Indies legend reached the milestone in just 66 balls, smashing 13 fours and 17 sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 265.15. His century, achieved in just 30 balls, still stands as the fastest in IPL history.

For Sooryavanshi to even consider surpassing such a record highlights the fearless approach of the new generation. However, his recent performances suggest that this ambition may not be far-fetched.

A generational IPL season

The young left-hander is currently enjoying a breakthrough IPL season, emerging as one of the most destructive batters in the tournament. In 14 matches, he has amassed 583 runs at an average of 41.64 and a staggering strike rate of 232.27. His tally includes one century and three half-centuries, with a highest score of 103.

One of the most eye-catching aspects of his campaign has been his six-hitting ability. Sooryavanshi has already struck 53 sixes this season — the highest by an Indian in a single IPL edition — and is closing in on Gayle’s all-time record of 59 sixes in a season, achieved in 2012.

His rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Last year, he made headlines by scoring a blistering 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans, the fastest IPL century by an Indian, while also becoming the youngest T20 centurion in history.

Dominance at the U19 level

Sooryavanshi’s brilliance is not limited to franchise cricket. At the ICC Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, he finished as the second-highest run-scorer, accumulating 439 runs in seven matches at an impressive average of 62.71 and a strike rate of 169.49. His performances included a century and three fifties, with a top score of 175.

He also shattered records with his power-hitting, smashing 30 sixes in the tournament — the most in U19 World Cup history — surpassing the previous record held by South Africa’s Dewald Brevis.

In U19 ODIs, Sooryavanshi is already India’s leading run-scorer, with 1,412 runs in just 25 innings at an average of 56.48 and a strike rate exceeding 165. His record includes four centuries and seven half-centuries, underlining his consistency and dominance.

Rapid rise across formats

Since October 2024, Sooryavanshi’s career trajectory has been on a steep upward curve. He first grabbed national attention with a 58-ball century against Australia U19 in Chennai, the fastest by an Indian in Youth Tests.

His domestic performances have been equally impressive. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored a 61-ball 108, becoming the youngest centurion in the tournament’s history. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, his explosive 190 off 84 balls against Arunachal Pradesh made him the youngest List A centurion and one of the fastest Indian players to reach the milestone.

Adding to his achievements, he smashed a 52-ball century against England U19, becoming both the youngest and fastest centurion in U19 cricket history.

From prodigy to superstar

During the IPL mega auction ahead of the 2025 season, Sooryavanshi was signed by Rajasthan Royals for ₹1.1 crore, making him the youngest player ever to secure an IPL contract. He made an immediate impact, famously hitting a six off his very first ball in the league.

His debut season saw him score 252 runs in seven innings at a strike rate above 206, including a century and a half-century. Since then, he has continued to break records and establish himself as one of the brightest young talents in world cricket.

Conclusion

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s bold ambition to score a double century in T20 cricket reflects a changing mindset in modern cricket, where players are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible. While Chris Gayle’s 175* has stood the test of time for over a decade, the fearless approach and extraordinary talent of this teenage prodigy suggest that records once considered untouchable may soon be within reach. If his current trajectory continues, the cricketing world may well witness history in the making.