The IPL 2026 fixture marked the 278th appearance in the tournament for both Kohli and Rohit, allowing the two modern-day greats to equal MS Dhoni’s all-time record for the most matches played in IPL history.
Dhoni, who remains part of Chennai Super Kings’s IPL 2026 squad despite not featuring in a game this season, reached the landmark across an iconic career spanning from 2008 to 2025. The former India captain represented both CSK and Rising Pune Supergiant during his IPL journey.
Kohli’s record carries extra significance given his loyalty to a single franchise. The batting superstar has represented only Royal Challengers Bengaluru ever since the inaugural IPL season in 2008 and has now gone level with Dhoni after 278 appearances for the franchise.
Rohit, meanwhile, achieved the feat after representing two teams in the competition. He began his IPL career with Deccan Chargers between 2008 and 2010 before moving to Mumbai Indians, where he went on to become one of the most successful captains in tournament history.
Most matches in IPL history
| Player | Team(s) | Matches | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | CSK, Rising Pune Supergiant | 278 | 5439 | 0 |
| Rohit Sharma | Deccan Chargers, MI | 278* | 7267* | 15 |
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 278* | 9040* | 4 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | RR, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, CSK, Gujarat Lions | 265 | 3450 | 178 |
| Dinesh Karthik | DC, PBKS, RCB, MI, Gujarat Lions, KKR | 257 | 4842 | 0 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | DC, MI, Deccan Chargers, SRH | 222 | 6769 | 4 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | CSK, Rising Pune Supergiant, PBKS, DC, RR | 221 | 833 | 187 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | MI, RR, Rising Pune Supergiant, DC, KKR, CSK | 208 | 5250 | 1 |
| Suresh Raina | CSK, Gujarat Lions | 205 | 5528 | 25 |
| Robin Uthappa | MI, RCB, Pune Warriors India, KKR, RR, CSK | 205 | 4952 | 0 |
The milestone came in a thrilling contest that eventually saw RCB edge past Mumbai Indians in a dramatic last-ball finish.
Earlier, Bhuvneshwar Kumar starred with the ball for RCB with figures of 4/23, while Tilak Varma top-scored for Mumbai with a fighting half-century.
RCB’s chase was then revived by a counterattacking knock from Krunal Pandya before Bengaluru sealed a tense victory in the final over.