Virat Kohli will create history and etch his name in the record books when he takes the field against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the first qualifier on May 26. With 282 caps, Kohli will become the most-capped player in IPL’s history and retain the top spot till IPL 2027. With 281 caps, he shares the top spot with Rohit Sharma.
Rohit’s IPL season ended on the last day of the league stage of IPL 2026. Rohit’s Mumbai Indians (MI) failed to qualify for the second round.
MS Dhoni, who was the most-capped player before the start of IPL 2026, now sits in the second position. He has played 278 matches. The Indian legend didn’t play a game for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026. Dhoni suffered a calf injury before IPL 2026 and stayed on the bench in the complete season.
Kohli is confirmed to play at least two more matches. He will only play three matches if RCB lose the first qualifier and then win the second qualifier to make it to the final.
Virat Kohli’s IPL career
Virat Kohli kicked off his IPL career with RCB in 2008. RCB spotted their next big star in Kohli and he was the only player they retained before IPL 2011. He made his IPL captaincy debut on a stand-in basis in 2011. Before IPL 2013, he was appointed RCB’s full-time captain.
In 2016, Kohli-led RCB lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final. Kohli had a dream run in 2016 and he won the Orange Cap for piling up 973 runs. He left RCB’s captaincy after IPL 2021.
Kohli finally won his maiden IPL trophy under Rajat Patidar’s captaincy in 2025. With 9218 runs in 281 matches, he is IPL’s highest run-scorer. No other batter has managed to breach the 7500-run mark. Kohli’s tally includes 9 centuries and 67 fifties. He is the only player to represent one IPL franchise in every season since the tournament’s inception.