5 players to feature in most matches for a single team in IPL
In franchise cricket, some players get a liking for the team that they represent and they love to play for the same side every season and even the franchises retain them due to their loyalty. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), few cricketers have gone on to appear for a single side for over 150 matches.
Let’s take a look at 5 players to feature in the most matches for a single team in the IPL:
5.Rohit Sharma (179)
Rohit Sharma, who had played for Deccan Chargers from 2008 to 2010, has been with the Mumbai Indians (MI) side since 2011. He has featured in 179 matches for the franchise, the fifth-most matches to be played for a single team by a player. He captained the franchise to title victories in 2013, 2015, 2014, 2019, and 2020. The ‘Hitman’ has scored 4641 runs at an average of 30.33 with one century and 32 fifties for MI.
4.Kieron Pollard (189)
Kieron Pollard has represented only one franchise in the IPL , the Mumbai Indians. He was bought in the year 2010 and since then he has been serving the side until now, having played 189 matches. The right-handed batter has amassed 3412 runs at an average of 28.67 and strike rate of 147.32 with 16 half-centuries. He has been part of all the five title-winning squads with MI.
3.Suresh Raina (176)
Suresh Raina has appeared for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since 2008. Notably, when CSK got banned for two years, he played for the now-defunct side Gujarat Lions (GL) in 2016 and 2017. Raina appeared in 176 matches for the Men in Yellow and scored 4687 runs at an average of 32.32 with one century and 33 fifties. He has been part of four CSK title-winning campaigns in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021.
2.MS Dhoni (201)
MS Dhoni recently reached the landmark of playing 200 matches for CSK in the IPL. He became just the second cricketer to feature in 200 games for a single team. Dhoni has been leading the Chennai-based franchise since the inception of the league in 2008. He won four trophies for the franchise and his team is the second most successful side after MI. In 201 matches, he has scored 4335 runs at an average of 40.51 with 22 half-centuries.
1.Virat Kohli (219)
Virat Kohli is the only player in the history of the league to represent a single franchise since 2008 till now. He has played 219 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), which is the most by any player for a single team. The star batter has amassed 6499 runs at an average of 36.30 with five hundred and 43 fifties. He has been a finalist with the team thrice in 2009, 2011, and 2016.
