Ananya Lohia , Delhi - Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has turned IPL 2026 into his personal stage, delivering a season that many are already comparing with Virat Kohli’s iconic 2016 campaign. While Kohli’s 973-run season remains the gold standard of IPL batting, Sooryavanshi’s fearless power-hitting and record-breaking six count have created a different kind of frenzy across Indian cricket.

At just 15, Sooryavanshi has smashed 680 runs in 15 matches at a staggering strike rate of 242.85, numbers that have left even the most experienced bowlers searching for answers. His tally of 65 sixes has already gone past the previous IPL record held by explosive hitters like Chris Gayle and Andre Russell, making his season one of the most destructive batting displays the league has ever witnessed. The youngster’s playoff knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad became the biggest talking point of the season. His blistering 97 off just 29 balls, featuring 12 sixes, completely dismantled the opposition and pushed comparisons with cricket’s greatest T20 seasons into overdrive. Throughout the campaign, he has dominated elite bowlers including Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood with remarkable ease.

Still, Kohli’s 2016 season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru remains unmatched in terms of overall consistency and volume. The former RCB captain scored a record 973 runs at a strike rate of 152.03, smashing four centuries and carrying his side to the IPL final. His unforgettable knocks included a 113 against Punjab Kings despite batting with stitches on his hand and a brutal 109 against Gujarat Lions in just 15- over games. What makes the comparison fascinating is the contrast between the two campaigns. Kohli’s season was built on experience, control and relentless consistency at the peak of his career, while Sooryavanshi’s rise has been powered by fearless aggression and boundary-hitting never seen before from a teenager in the IPL.

Whether Sooryavanshi’s 2026 season surpasses Kohli’s legendary 2016 run remains open to debate, but the teenager has undoubtedly changed the conversation around batting in T20 cricket. Kohli’s campaign may still be the benchmark for greatness, yet Sooryavanshi’s six-hitting storm has already secured its place among the most extraordinary IPL seasons ever seen.