New Delhi: Virat Kohli on Wednesday added another milestone to his illustrious career, becoming the most capped player in Indian Premier League history after featuring for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur.It was Kohli’s 279th IPL match, taking him past the long-standing record holders Dhoni and Rohit, who were tied on 278 matches before the tournament. The moment cemented Kohli’s status since the league’s inception in 2008.
Kohli goes clear at the top.Kohli has represented only one franchise in his entire IPL journey – RCB – making this milestone all the more significant. His record-breaking feat came in a crucial game for RCB, who are pushing for a play-off berth in IPL 2026.Dhoni, despite being part of the Chennai Super Kings squad this season, is yet to feature due to injury concerns, while Rohit continues to play for Mumbai Indians and is on par with the CSK legend.Kohli now stands alone at the top of the all-time appearances list:
- 1. Virat Kohli – 279
- 2. MS Dhoni – 278
- 3. Rohit Sharma – 278
- 4. Ravindra Jadeja – 265
- 5. Dinesh Karthik – 257
- 6. Shikhar Dhawan – 222
- 7. Ravichandran Ashwin – 221
- 8. Ajinkya Rahane – 209
- 9. Suresh Raina – 205
- 10. Robin Uthappa – 205
The record comes in a clash of playoff races.The milestone was achieved when RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first in Raipur. Captain Rajat Patidar said the surface was expected to behave similarly to his previous outing there, with variable bounce likely to affect the contest.RCB entered the game with seven wins from 11 matches and were looking to strengthen their grip on a play-off spot after a dramatic win over Mumbai Indians.Meanwhile, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said his team is hopeful of making a late playoff charge after four consecutive victories.But even before the first ball was bowled, the spotlight was on Kohli.From being RCB’s teenager in 2008 to now standing alone as the IPL’s most capped player, the 37-year-old’s latest record is another reminder of his longevity – and his central role in shaping the tournament’s history.
