Virat Kohli has created history in IPL.
There have been three players before Virat who have played more than 250 IPL matches but they have played for more than one team.
Rohit Sharma, the second player to don 250 IPL caps, represented Deccan Chargers from IPL 2008 to 2010 before he joined Mumbai Indians.
Dinesh Karthik, the third player to play 250 IPL matches, has played for different teams in IPL.
Virat is going strong in IPL and he could very well become the first player to play 300 IPL matches in the next 4-5 years.
Virat Kohli has created history in IPL. Photo: BCCI
KEY HIGHLIGHTS Virat Kohli has created history in IPL
He has achieved a huge milestone for RCB
Virat has been part of RCB since IPL 2008
Virat Kohli has created history and become the first-ever player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to play 250 matches for one franchise. Virat, who started his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2008, continues to be part of the franchise. RCB have never released him before an auction and he looks all but set to play for them till his retirement.
There have been three players before Virat who have played more than 250 IPL matches but they have played for more than one team. MS Dhoni , who played his 250th IPL match in the final last year, has represented Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant.
Rohit Sharma, the second player to don 250 IPL caps, represented Deccan Chargers from IPL 2008 to 2010 before he joined Mumbai Indians. Dinesh Karthik, the third player to play 250 IPL matches, has played for different teams in IPL.
Virat is the only player in IPL's history to be part of one team in every season played thus far and he is representing RCB for the 250th time.
The IPL legend joined RCB as a rookie before IPL 2008. He initially struggled in the T20 league and only managed to breach the 300-run mark once during the three-year contract.
RCB had faith in Virat and he was the only player that they retained before the IPL 2011 mega-auction. Virat breached the 500-run mark in the season and scored 557 runs in 2011. Virat's success in international cricket saw him taking over RCB's full-time captain before IPL 2013.
He led the team till IPL 2021 with minimal success. RCB, who have yet to win an IPL title, only played one final under him - in 2016. Virat left captaincy after IPL 2021.
RCB appointed Faf du Plessis as their captain before IPL 2022 and he continues to lead the team. Given RCB's below-par run in IPL 2024 , the franchise could release du Plessis before the IPL 2025 mega-auction. But there are no doubts over Virat's future with the franchise.
Virat has piled up 7897 runs for RCB and is IPL's highest run-scorer. He is followed by Shikhar Dhawan, who has scored 6769 runs in 222 matches. David Warner (6564), Rohit Sharma (6560) and Suresh Raina (5528) sit next, respectively.
Virat is going strong in IPL and he could very well become the first player to play 300 IPL matches in the next 4-5 years.
