Samira Vishwas
Tezzbuzz|28-05-2026
A fastest-ever IPL century was there for the taking for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Having skyrocketed to 97 off 28 deliveries, Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century made against Pune Warriors India in 2013 looked under threat. But off the 29th delivery he faced, for the first time on Wednesday night, the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi mis-timed one short delivery to the thirdman.
The intention to go for another aerial shot so close to the three-figure landmark was very much in Sooryavanshi’s element.
Having hit 12 sixes on the night, the left-hander backed himself, but eventually found the fielder.When asked if the century was at the back of his mind, Sooryavanshi said, “I wasn’t aware of the potential record. My centuries will come. I wasn’t really thinking about the century because I was actually thinking of getting the trophy for the team. But I played that shot after looking at the fielder, and that’s why I mistimed it. If I had gone towards thirdman, it would have cleared easily. But I tried to hit it straight, and that’s why I missed the shot.”
Having already scored 175 in the Under-19 World Cup final, Sooryavanshi showed no signs of pressure in the Eliminator.
Put to bat first by Sunrisers Hyderabad, he raced to his fifty off 16 deliveries and maintained the tempo throughout his whirlwind knock. Before the game began, he was seen heading to the pitch, crouching at one end with his eyes closed. And an hour later, he unfurled one of the best T20 knocks of all time.The 15-year-old admitted there was pressure, but didn’t let it come in the way of his natural game. “It was somewhere in my mind, but all the coaches told me to do exactly what I’ve been doing in practice, enjoy the game, and not take pressure in this match.”
Through the course of his knock, Sooryavanshi ended up taking the Orange Cap. At 15, he has a strong chance to become the youngest to take home. He has tallied 680 runs at an incredible strike-rate of 242.85 with one century and four fifties.
Asked about his gameplan, he said: “I think a little, not much. Try to keep things simple. Just think about the bowlers and what plans I can have against them. I try to play with good intent and dominate the bowlers.
I want to pressurise the bowler.”
