The highly anticipated IPL 2026 clash between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati promises a fascinating generational showdown, headlined by the fearless 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi taking on the evergreen Virat Kohli.
Sooryavanshi, the Bihar prodigy born on March 27, 2011, has taken the tournament by storm. Already the youngest player to bag an IPL contract and the youngest centurion in T20 cricket, the left-handed opener has continued his blistering form in 2026.
He smashed a 15-ball fifty against Chennai Super Kings and fearlessly welcomed Jasprit Bumrah with a six off the first ball in another match. His strike rate hovers above 240, and in tandem with Yashasvi
Jaiswal, he forms the most explosive opening pair in the league, giving RR lightning starts.
On the other side stands Virat Kohli, the undisputed king of IPL chases and consistency. At 37, the RCB icon remains in sublime touch, anchoring the innings with class while accelerating seamlessly alongside Phil Salt. Kohli's experience and composure under pressure contrast sharply with Suryavanshi's audacious, no-fear approach.
As the two mavericks of contrasting cricketing journeys take the centre stage, here is a comparison of their IPL numbers after the first 10 IPL matches.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after 10 IPL Matches
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has played 10 IPL matches for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 374 runs at a strike rate of 218.71. The 15-year-old became the youngest debutant (14y 23d) and youngest centurion in IPL history with a 101 off 38 balls in 2025. In 2026, he has smashed 122 runs off 49 balls at 248.98 SR, including a 15-ball fifty.
How did Virat Kohli fare after First 10 IPL Matches?
Virat Kohli played his first 10 IPL matches in the 2008 season itself. The stalwart, back in those days, played IPL after winning the U19 World Cup. And after 10 matches, Kohli scored 146 runs across 9 innings, which was just 156 after the 10th inning.
In his first 10 innings, Kohli's highest score was 38 against Deccan Chargers, while he was batting at a modest strike rate of 103.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs Virat Kohli: After First 10 IPL Innings
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Virat Kohli | |
| Innings | 10 | 10 |
| Runs | 374 | 156 |
| Average | 37.4 | 17.33 |
| Strike Rate | 218.72 | 103.31 |
| Highest | 101 | 38 |
| 50s/100s | 2/1 | 0/0 |
