Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-7628840-20130330192013/@comment-26511634-20150629110215

Yes for two reasons. 1. Ichigo's growth rate is by far the quickest in all of the anime and he's only been using his hollow powers till this point. 2. Also I believe that the hollow has gained the strength of ichigo's bankai as he has changed forms from the white kimono to ichigo's bankai robes.