Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added another extraordinary chapter to his dream IPL 2026 season by becoming the first player in T20 history to score 500 runs in the powerplay during a single tournament. The Rajasthan Royals youngster achieved the milestone during Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans on Friday, continuing what has already been one of the most explosive batting campaigns ever seen in the IPL. The historic moment came in a high-pressure knockout clash where Rajasthan Royals were desperate for another rescue act from their teenage sensation. RR captain Riyan Parag had won the toss and opted to bat first against Gujarat Titans, with the winner set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Sunday’s final. Most runs in Overs 1-6 in an IPL edition521 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 2026 (SR: 233.63)467 – David Warner in 2016 (SR: 150.16)402 – Travis Head in 2024 (SR: 208.29)402 – Sai Sudharsan in 2025 (SR: 155.81)382 – Adam Gilchrist in 2009 (SR: 165.36) However, Rajasthan’s innings could not have started worse. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for just one run in the opening over, while Dhruv Jurel departed in the second over as both Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada struck early blows. The double setback immediately exposed how heavily RR had depended on their top-order firepower throughout the season. With Rajasthan suddenly under pressure, all eyes once again turned towards Sooryavanshi, who has repeatedly transformed games inside the powerplay this season with his fearless hitting. The youngster had entered Qualifier 2 fresh off one of the greatest knocks in IPL playoff history after smashing a jaw-dropping 97 off just 29 balls in the previous match. He narrowly missed out on what would have been the fastest century in IPL history but still rewrote record books with his astonishing assault. During that innings, Sooryavanshi also went past Chris Gayle for the most sixes hit in a single IPL season, underlining the sheer scale of his dominance at the top of the order. Now, with 500 powerplay runs in IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi has achieved something no batter in T20 cricket had ever managed before. The record further highlights his unmatched impact in the first six overs, where bowlers across the tournament have struggled to contain his relentless attacking approach. At a stage where RR’s season was hanging in the balance after two early wickets, the franchise once again looked towards the teenager who has become the face of their remarkable campaign.
