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Virat Kohli added another remarkable IPL milestone to his legendary career during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders clash in Raipur.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star became the player with the most appearances in the history of the Indian Premier League. The 37-year-old featured in his 279th IPL match, moving past two of Indian cricket’s biggest names, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni.
Kohli has been an integral part of RCB since the inaugural season in 2008 and remains the only player to represent a single franchise in every season of the league. His latest appearance added another record to his already decorated IPL career.
Most matches played in IPL history
- Virat Kohli – 279*
- Rohit Sharma – 278
- MS Dhoni – 278
- Ravindra Jadeja – 265
- Dinesh Karthik – 257
- Shikhar Dhawan – 222
- Ravichandran Ashwin – 221
Virat Kohli’s incredible journey with Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Kohli started his IPL journey with RCB back in 2008 and has remained with the franchise ever since. Over the years, he has grown into the face of the team and one of the greatest players in the league’s history.
He is the highest run-scorer in IPL history with 9,044 runs. He has maintained an average of 39.65 and a strike rate of 133.91 while playing across different phases of the tournament.
Kohli also holds the record for the most centuries in IPL history with eight hundreds. Alongside that, he has registered 66 half-centuries, making his consistency unmatched over the years.
Kohli’s 2016 season remains unmatched in IPL
The standout season of Kohli’s career came in 2016.
The right-hander produced one of the greatest batting campaigns in T20 history when he smashed 973 runs in just 16 matches. That remains the highest number of runs scored by any batter in a single IPL season.
Kohli’s dominance also earned him the Orange Cap that year. He later won his second Orange Cap in IPL 2024, underlining his longevity at the top level.
Long-awaited IPL title finally came in 2025
After years of heartbreak, Kohli finally lifted the IPL trophy in 2025 when RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the final to win their maiden title.
It ended an 18-year wait for both Kohli and the franchise. The moment became one of the most memorable stories in IPL history.
RCB have looked strong again this season and will hope to defend their title with Kohli continuing to lead the batting charge at the top.
Kohli looking to bounce back after rare back-to-back ducks
Despite the milestone, Kohli came into the KKR game after two disappointing outings. He registered back-to-back ducks, which is an extremely rare sight for a batter of his stature.
Still, with the experience and class he brings, Kohli has repeatedly shown the ability to bounce back from setbacks.
As the playoff race heats up, RCB will be hoping their biggest star returns to form and delivers another defining knock.
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