IPL 2025: Who Played The Most IPL Matches In Its History? Not Rohit Sharma Or Virat Kohli; Check Top 3

IPL 2025: The much-awaited T20 cricket league, IPL, is just around the corner. Launched in 2008, IPL has become one of the most popular and richest cricket leagues globally. Generally, the IPL season is held between March to May of every year. Tata Group will be the main sponsor of IPL for the fourth consecutive season. While cricket fans are waiting with enthusiasm to support their favourite team, did you know which cricketers played the most IPL matches?

The top 3 cricketers who have played the most IPL matches in its history, were once upon a time the captain of the Indian cricket team. One of them is the current captain of the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma. However, it is neither Sharma nor the most followed and record-breaker Virat Kohli who holds the top spot.

Then, who? Drum Roll! The cricketer who has played the most matches of IPL is MS Dhoni who is among the most prolific wicket-keeper batsmen and captains and one of the greatest ODI batsmen.

Check out the top 3 list:

MS Dhoni:

Making his debut in 2008, the wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni has played the most IPL matches to the tune of 264. He was captain of Chennai Super King till 2024, before handing the title to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Under Dhoni's leadership, CSK has won five IPL trophies, the most in the league's history, and tying-up alongside Mumbai Indians. CSK were IPL winners in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023.

A batting powerhouse, MS Dhoni possesses the ability to destroy different bowling attacks on his own. The calmness and composure in his demeanour along with a sharp cricketing brain accounts for a lethal combination on the cricketing field and the glistening silverware in the trophy cabinets at CSK are a testimony to his extraordinary leadership skills, as per the IPL website.

In his IPL career, Dhoni has made about 5,243 runs, with his highest being 84. He was the Indian cricket team captain from 2007 to 2016, and during his reign, the team won the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. His successor was Virat Kohli.

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Rohit Sharma:

Debuted his IPL career in 2008 as a batter, and he has a record of playing 257 matches. This takes Rohit Sharma to second rank in most IPL matches.

As per the IPL website, Rohit Sharma has etched his name as the most successful captain in the IPL with five trophies, the most by anyone in the tournament. He has cracked the code and made MI the most consistent team. A prolific run-getter, the Hitman is one of the most naturally gifted batsmen in the world and has been enjoying a tremendous run with the bat. When it comes to the shorter format, few can match his striking abilities. Rohit proved why he is regarded as a special talent when he became the first batsman to strike two double centuries in the ODIs and he now has three. He was one of the most consistent Deccan Chargers batsmen in the first three seasons of the IPL and was instrumental in his former franchise winning the crown in 2009 However, since 2011, Rohit has been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians guiding their batting line-up. He took over the team's captaincy a couple of games into the 2013 season and led MI to their maiden IPL title.

His legacy of Hitman expanded further on, after powering Mumbai Indians to title victories in the 2017 and 2019 seasons, both being last-ball thrillers. Rohit led the Mumbai Indians to a successful campaign in the 2020 season, which was their second consecutive title.

Sharma is currently the captain of the Indian cricket team.

Virat Kohli:

Also, debuted in 2008, Virat Kohli has played up to 252 IPL matches, putting him in the third rank. As per the IPL website, Virat Kohli who took over as RCB's full-time captain in 2013, led them in 140 matches, winning 66 and losing as many as 70. What the former RCB Skipper also confirmed to the fans ahead of the IPL Mega Auction was that he will always remain an RCB player, loyal to his franchise. He was picked in the IPL draft ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction for INR 15 crores. The former Indian Cricket Team's Captain is popularly known as the Run Machine. Virat Kohli's ability and hunger to score daddy hundreds has taken the cricket world by storm.

IPL website added that the flamboyant cricketer was the captain of the Indian team that won the 2008 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup and since then there has been no looking back for King Kohli. He is a new-age cricketer who is aggressive and expresses his mind on the field. In 2008, Kohli was inducted into the RCB squad and started leading the side in the year 2013. Until 2022, he was the highest paid cricketer in IPL and was the first one to be retained by his franchise ahead of the IPL 2018 Player Auction.

With 252 matches, Kohli has made up to 8,004 runs, making him the highest scorer of IPL and also the most centuries. His highest run is 109.

Before Sharma, Kohli was the Indian cricket team captain.