Not RCB's title victory, Sunil Gavaskar reveals the defining memory he’ll take away from IPL 2026

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 concluded with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully defending their title, but for former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, the biggest takeaway from the season was not the franchise’s historic achievement.

Instead, Gavaskar singled out Rajasthan Royals (RR) teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the defining story of IPL 2026, praising the 15-year-old’s fearless batting and record-breaking campaign.

Despite RR falling short of the title after reaching Qualifier 2, Sooryavanshi emerged as one of the biggest stars of the tournament and captured the imagination of fans across the cricketing world.

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Sunil Gavaskar picks Sooryavanshi as IPL 2026's standout memory

Reflecting on the recently concluded season, Gavaskar admitted that Sooryavanshi’s remarkable exploits with the bat would remain his strongest memory from IPL 2026.

"What I’ll remember, of course, is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi," Gavaskar told India Today in an exclusive interaction when asked about the one standout memory from the season.

"Vaibhav Sooryavanshi batting the way that he did, hitting 72 sixes, scoring 500 runs in the power play itself. I mean, that is a phenomenal achievement by a 15-year-old. And that just augurs well for Indian cricket in the future."

The former India skipper’s comments underline the impact Sooryavanshi had throughout the competition, with the youngster consistently dismantling bowling attacks and producing match-winning performances despite his age.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dominated IPL 2026 with bat and records

Rajasthan Royals opener enjoyed a season for the ages, finishing as the Orange Cap winner after scoring 776 runs in 16 matches.

Sooryavanshi averaged 48.50 and maintained a staggering strike rate of 237.30, making him one of the most destructive batters in the tournament. His campaign included five scores above fifty, three dismissals in the 90s, and a century.

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His aggressive batting style also saw him smash a tournament-high 72 sixes, setting a new benchmark for power-hitting in a single IPL season.

The extraordinary season earned him multiple individual honours at the end of the tournament. Sooryavanshi was named the Emerging Player of the Season and also claimed the Super Striker of the Season award for his strike rate of 237.30. Additionally, he walked away with the Super Sixes of the Season award after clearing the ropes 72 times.

At just 15 years of age, Sooryavanshi not only rewrote IPL records but also established himself as one of the brightest young prospects in Indian cricket.