IPL stats: Top 5 players to play the most Indian Premier League games

May 16, 2023May 16, 2023 Omar

The Indian Premier League is in its 15 edition and there have been some players who have played in the league right from its inception. Experience in T20 cricket enhances a player’s game awareness and allows him to perform better under pressure. The experienced players know when to accelerate the scoring rate, when to take risks, and when to consolidate. Experienced players can read the game better and anticipate opposition strategies which gives them an edge over their opponents.

We have seen experienced players dominate in the IPL, they know the art of handling a tough situation. Experience is highly valued in T20 cricket due to its impact on decision-making, handling pressure and game awareness. Experienced players bring a wealth of knowledge and have seen excelling in the league over the years. In this article, we will list out the most experienced players in the IPL, the players to have played the most number of games in this iconic league.

List of players with the most IPL matches

1. MS Dhoni – 220 matches

MS Dhoni tops the charts for the most matches played in the Indian Premier League. He has played 220 matches while representing the Chennai Super Kings & Rising Pune Super Giants. MS has scored over 4,500 runs at a batting average of 39.55. Dhoni has also taken 126 catches and inflicted 39 stumpings in the 220 matches that he has featured in.

2. Dinesh Karthik – 213 matches

Dinesh Karthik comes second on the list, he has played for six different franchises in his IPL career, he started his career with the Delhi Daredevils and went on to play for Gujarat Lions, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Karthik has played 213 IPL matches in his career so far.

3. Rohit Sharma – 213 matches

Rohit Sharma takes the third spot with 213 IPL matches. Rohit has played for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the IPL and has led the MI to 5 IPL titles. Rohit has been phenomenal for the MI Indians and one of the most successful openers to have played in the Indian Premier League.

4. Virat Kohli – 207 matches

Virat Kohli comes next with 207 matches for RCB. Virat has been part of the same franchise since 2008 and even captained the side during 2011-2021. Kohli has scored 6,283 runs with an average of 37.39. Kohli has also scored 5 centuries in the IPL so far and the number will only go up as he will play a lot more seasons.

5. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja comes 5th on this list with 205 matches to his name. Jadeja first played for the Rajasthan Royals and has gone on to play for the Chennai Super Kings and the Gujarat Lions. Jadeja has been a part of 5 IPL winnings teams and has one of the best all-round records in the Indian Premier League.

IPL: Top 5 players with the most IPL matches

Players	Matches	Teams	Years
MS Dhoni	220	CSK, RPS	2008 – 2013
Dinesh Karthik	213	KXIP, DD, GL, KKR, MI, RCB	2008 – 2013
Rohit Sharma	213	DC, MI	2008 – 2013
Virat Kohli	207	RCB	2008 – 2013
Ravindra Jadeja	205	RR, CSK, GL	2008 – 2013