Virat Kohli: The Century King of the Indian Premier League

Virat Kohli holds the record for the most IPL centuries. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter reached nine hundreds in 2026, a mark no one else has touched in the league’s 19-year history. In T20 cricket, where games swing on big hits and rapid scoring, building a full century demands rare patience mixed with raw power. Kohli delivers both better than anyone.

The All-Time Leaders: Most IPL Centuries

As of the end of the 2026 season, which produced 15 centuries, here is the updated list:

Total IPL centuries to date: 125 scored by 63 different players.

Kohli’s Remarkable Journey to 9 Centuries

Kohli debuted in the IPL in 2008 as a 19-year-old. For eight straight seasons he piled up runs without ever reaching three figures. Then 2016 arrived and everything changed.

That year he posted 973 runs in 16 matches, still the single-season record. He also became the first player to score four IPL centuries in one edition:

• 100* off 63 balls versus Gujarat Lions
• 108* off 58 balls versus Rising Pune Supergiants
• 109 off 55 balls versus Kings XI Punjab
• And the fourth that completed the historic run

The 2016 haul turned him into the benchmark. He added more milestones in later years:

• 2019: 100 versus Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens
• 2023: Two centuries, including 101* versus Gujarat Titans
• 2024: A composed 113* off 72 balls versus Rajasthan Royals — one of the slowest IPL tons on record and proof he had evolved into a complete batsman who could bat deep
• May 13, 2026: His ninth IPL century — an unbeaten 105 off 60 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur

That knock ended a brief run of two ducks and lifted RCB to the top of the table. It also made 2026 the first season in which every franchise had at least one centurion.

All nine centuries have come in RCB colors. Loyalty like that is rare in modern franchise cricket.

What Makes Kohli Special?

Kohli does not rely on pure power like many T20 specialists. He blends classical timing with modern intent. Watch him closely and you see the small details that separate him:

• He places the ball with surgical precision rather than just swinging hard
• He anchors early overs then shifts gears without warning
• He thrives in high-pressure chases when RCB needs him most
• He adapts to any surface or attack

His highest IPL score is 113*, achieved twice. He remains the league’s all-time leading run-scorer with well over 8,600 runs and counting.

The Challengers: Buttler, Gayle & Others

Jos Buttler sits closest with seven centuries. The English opener equalled Kohli’s single-season record of four tons in 2022 and brings explosive opening bursts that can end games in the powerplay.

Chris Gayle, the Universe Boss, delivered six centuries filled with raw entertainment. His 175* remains the highest individual score in IPL history.

KL Rahul and Sanju Samson represent the next wave of Indian middle-order stars who have joined the five-century club. Both bring calm under pressure and the ability to finish innings.

Why Centuries Matter in IPL

Teams regularly chase 180 to 220. A century changes the entire match. It gives the batting side a massive platform, shifts momentum, and lifts team belief. Kohli’s tons have frequently decided whether RCB qualified or went home early. In a league this competitive, one big innings can separate a playoff spot from another season of what-ifs.

Legacy and Future

Kohli turned 37 during the 2026 season yet continues to perform at the highest level. His ninth century proved age has not dulled his edge. RCB fans who have followed him since 2008 know the story: the early years of promise, the 2016 explosion, the steady accumulation of records, and now this latest chapter written under the lights in Raipur.

He may add a tenth or eleventh century. Or he may not. Either way, Virat Kohli has already secured his place as the player with the most hundreds in IPL history. He is not merely a run-machine. He sets the standard for what sustained excellence looks like in this league.

“Records are meant to be broken… but some take longer than others. Kohli’s nine centuries may stand for a very long time.”