Cricket news

Chris Gayle crowns teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the new six machine after record-shattering IPL knock

Cricket legend Chris Gayle has passed on the torch to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him the new six machine after the young prodigy broke the record for the most sixes in a T20 tournament.

Published

5 months ago

May 28, 2026

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West Indies cricket icon Chris Gayle has showered immense praise on India and Rajasthan Royals’ 15-year-old batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, following his breathtaking performance in the Indian Premier League eliminator. The teenager played a spectacular 29-ball 97 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, a knock that saw him surpass the legendary West Indian for the most sixes hit in a single IPL edition.

Taking to Instagram to celebrate the young left-hander’s achievements, Gayle declared Sooryavanshi as cricket’s “new six machine”. The legendary batsman also offered words of encouragement to the youngster, who narrowly missed out on breaking Gayle’s record for the fastest-ever IPL century. Gayle noted that while the 15-year-old was unfortunate to miss the milestone, he will “get there eventually”.

Dismantling long-standing T20 records

During his explosive innings, Sooryavanshi struck 5 fours and 12 sixes, operating at an astonishing strike rate of over 334. This masterclass propelled his tournament sixes tally to 65, eclipsing Gayle’s previous record of 59 sixes established during the 2012 IPL season. Consequently, Sooryavanshi now holds the record for the most sixes smashed by any batsman in a single T20 tournament.

The teenage opener has now equaled Gayle’s record for hitting 10 or more sixes in an IPL innings on four occasions. Strikingly, three of those instances have occurred in the current season, making him the first player in tournament history to achieve this feat three times in one year. His 12 maximums against Sunrisers Hyderabad also stand as the highest number of sixes smashed by an individual in an IPL knockout match, as well as the highest by any Indian batter in a single IPL innings.

Dominating the powerplay and rewriting history

The young prodigy has consistently taken apart world-class bowling attacks this season. During the playoff match, he cleared the boundary eight times during the powerplay, surpassing Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya’s record of seven powerplay sixes set back in 2008.

Sooryavanshi has accumulated 490 runs purely within the powerplay overs this season, overtaking Australian veteran David Warner’s 2016 tally of 467 runs. Furthermore, his blazing 16-ball half-century has tied him for the joint-fastest fifty scored in an IPL knockout match.

In his 15 tournament innings, the uncapped left-hander has amassed 680 runs at an average of 45.33 and a staggering strike rate of 242.85. He has crossed the 600-run milestone as the youngest player to do so in tournament history, breaking the previous record for an uncapped player held by his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal. According to advanced cricketing data, Sooryavanshi has accumulated 88.9 percent of his total runs this season solely through boundaries, outperforming previous high-impact campaigns like Andre Russell’s 2019 season. He also stands as the first player in T20 cricket history to cross 600 runs in a single tournament while maintaining a strike rate above 200.

Playoff race intensifies

Supported by a rapid 21-ball 50 from Dhruv Jurel, Sooryavanshi’s spectacular knock powered Rajasthan Royals to a massive total of 243 for 8. In response, Sunrisers Hyderabad struggled early on, losing four wickets during the powerplay despite a quickfire 33 from Ishan Kishan.

An impressive bowling display led by Archer and Burger restricted Sunrisers Hyderabad to 196 runs, sealing their exit from the competition. Rajasthan Royals will now progress to meet Gujarat Titans in the second qualifier, with the winners earning a spot in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashes Chris Gayle’s historic record for most sixes in an IPL season

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India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to win Asian Games cricket gold

India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final to retain the gold medal in the competition.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 3, 2026

APNLive Desk

India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s cricket final at the Asian Games 2026 on Saturday to retain the gold medal.

India posted 211 for six after being sent in to bat, before restricting Pakistan to 192 for six in their 20 overs. The victory gave India their second successive Asian Games gold medal in men’s cricket.

India post 211 in final

India’s batting was led by Abhishek Sharma, who scored 61 off 28 balls, while Tilak Varma contributed 51 off 22 balls.

The two batters provided the momentum as India reached 211 for six from their 20 overs.

India captain Shreyas Iyer had won the toss and elected to bat first in the final.

Pakistan fall 19 runs short

Pakistan’s chase was anchored by Hasan Nawaz, who made 96 from 51 balls. Saim Ayub added 29 from 22 balls, but Pakistan finished on 192 for six after 20 overs.

India’s Axar Patel and Washington Sundar each took two wickets as Pakistan fell short of the target.

The result secured the gold medal for India, while Pakistan finished with silver. Sri Lanka won the bronze medal after defeating Bangladesh in the bronze-medal match.

India retain Asian Games cricket title

The victory marked India’s second consecutive men’s cricket gold medal at the Asian Games. India had also won the men’s cricket gold at the Hangzhou edition.

India’s victory over Pakistan also completed a gold-medal double for the country in cricket at the 2026 Asian Games, after the women’s team won the women’s cricket final earlier in the competition.

Cricket news

Jasprit Bumrah becomes first Indian to play T20Is in 13 countries

Jasprit Bumrah became the first Indian to play T20I cricket in 13 different countries after featuring against Sri Lanka in Japan.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

APNLive Desk

Jasprit Bumrah added another milestone to his international career on Thursday after taking the field for India against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket semifinal in Japan.

Bumrah’s appearance at Nishin made him the first Indian to play T20I cricket in 13 different countries, according to the report. He moved ahead of former India captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have each played T20Is in 12 countries.

Bumrah’s 13-country T20I record

Before playing in Japan, Bumrah had represented India in T20Is in 12 other countries — India, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the United States, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

His appearance in Japan took the tally to 13. Kohli, Rohit and Bhuvneshwar had played in all of those countries except Japan, leaving Bumrah alone at the top of the list.

Kohli and Rohit cannot add to their totals as both have retired from T20I cricket, according to the source.

Bumrah shines against Sri Lanka

Bumrah also made an immediate impact in his first T20I appearance in Japan. He claimed two wickets in his opening over against Sri Lanka and finished with figures of 2/7 in two overs.

India went on to dismiss Sri Lanka for 45 in 9.5 overs and won the semifinal by 124 runs to book a place in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final.

The result set up an India-Pakistan gold-medal clash, scheduled for October 3.

Jasprit Bumrah has become the first Indian to play T20I cricket in 13 different countries. His appearance against Sri Lanka in Japan took him past Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who have played T20Is in 12 countries each.

Cricket news

India beat West Indies by 8 wickets, Gill hits record 223

Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 223 and Rohit Sharma’s 101 helped India chase 406 against West Indies and win the second ODI by eight wickets in Guwahati.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

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India produced a remarkable batting performance to defeat West Indies by eight wickets in the second ODI in Guwahati, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

West Indies posted 405 for 7 in their 50 overs after centuries from John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo. India then produced an emphatic response, reaching 406 for 2 in just 43.3 overs.

Shubman Gill led the chase with an unbeaten 223, while Rohit Sharma provided strong support with a century.

Gill’s record-breaking double century

Gill remained unbeaten on 223 from 133 balls and completed his double century in 117 deliveries.

His innings made him the first batter to score an ODI double century in 117 balls, according to the report. His unbeaten 223 was also recorded as the highest ODI score by an Indian captain and the highest score by an Indian in an ODI chase.

Gill’s innings contained a combination of boundaries and sustained attacking batting as India comfortably reached the target set by West Indies.

Rohit Sharma scores 101

Rohit Sharma also produced a century during India’s chase, scoring 101 from 75 balls.

The innings also saw Rohit reach the milestone of 12,000 ODI runs. He became the third Indian batter to reach the landmark after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli contributed 29 runs before being dismissed during the chase.

West Indies post 405

Earlier, West Indies put up a huge total of 405 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs.

John Campbell scored 101, while Shai Hope made 104. Amir Jangoo also struck a century, scoring 114.

Despite the three centuries, West Indies could not defend the total as India’s top order produced a dominant chase.

India take 2-0 series lead

India completed the chase in 43.3 overs, finishing on 406 for 2 and securing an eight-wicket victory.

The result gives India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, with the second match producing a record-breaking individual performance from captain Shubman Gill.