Batting juggernaut Virat Kohli stormed into record books on May 13 the moment was named in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) starting lineup for their crucial 2026 IPL clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The high-stakes encounter, held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan International Stadium in Raipur, carries significant weight for both teams as the playoff race intensifies.
Virat Kohli becomes most capped IPL player
The match began after a brief rain delay, with RCB captain Rajat Patidar winning the toss and electing to bowl first. KKR, serving as the home side for this fixture, opted for two tactical changes to their XI: Venkatesh Iyer returned to the fold in place of Romario Shepherd, while New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy was brought in for spinner Suyash Sharma.
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In addition to his overall appearance record, Kohli remains the only player in IPL history to have featured in over 250 matches for a single franchise. His loyalty to Royal Challengers Bengaluru has placed him far ahead of his peers in this category; MS Dhoni sits in second place with 248 appearances for Chennai Super Kings, while Rohit Sharma follows in third with 232 games for the Mumbai Indians.
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MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma play catch-up game with Virat Kohli
The race for the most-capped title will continue to fluctuate in the coming days, as Rohit Sharma is expected to move back into a tie with Kohli during Mumbai’s clash against Punjab Kings on May 14. However, Kohli is widely expected to secure the record by the end of the 2026 season. Since Mumbai Indians have already been eliminated from playoff contention, RCB’s likely advancement into the post-season will provide Kohli with additional opportunities to pull ahead, provided he remains injury-free.
The situation for MS Dhoni is more complicated, as the veteran keeper has yet to take the field this season due to a persistent calf injury. Reports indicate that he did not travel with the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led squad for their upcoming match against the Lucknow Super Giants on May 15. This continued absence means Dhoni will inevitably fall behind both Kohli and Rohit in the all-time list as the season progresses.