Virat Kohli holds the record for most centuries in IPL history — 9 hundreds across 279 matches, every single one for Royal Challengers Bengaluru since 2008. His ninth came on May 13, 2026 against KKR in Raipur, the same innings in which he became the first batter to score centuries against all 10 IPL franchises. Here’s the complete all-time leaderboard, the single-season record holders, and a realistic look at whether anyone active can catch him.
Quick Answer — Most Centuries in IPL History
Virat Kohli has the most centuries in IPL history — 9 hundreds in 279 matches at an average of 40.1. Jos Buttler is second with 7 in 120 matches. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul are joint-third with 6 each. Sanju Samson is fifth with 5, including two in IPL 2026. हिन्दी: विराट कोहली ने आईपीएल इतिहास में सर्वाधिक 9 शतक लगाए हैं।
Most Centuries in IPL History — Top 10 All-Time
Nine players have hit four or more IPL centuries since the tournament began in 2008. The table below ranks every batter who has reached triple figures four or more times, updated through IPL 2026 matches played to date.
| Rank | Player | Team(s) | M | 100s | Runs | Avg | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 279 | 9 | 9,145 | 40.1 | 2008–26 |
| 2 | Jos Buttler | RR / GT / MI | 120 | 7 | 4,100 | 38.5 | 2016–26 |
| 3 | Chris Gayle | KKR / RCB / KXIP | 142 | 6 | 4,965 | 39.7 | 2008–21 |
| 3 | KL Rahul | RCB / KXIP / LSG / DC | 163 | 6 | 5,775 | 45.5 | 2013–26 |
| 5 | Sanju Samson | DC / RR / CSK | 195 | 5 | 4,700 | 30.7 | 2013–26 |
| 5 | Shubman Gill | DC / RR / CSK | 195 | 5 | 4,700 | 30.7 | 2013–26 |
| 6 | David Warner | SRH / DC | 184 | 4 | 6,565 | 40.5 | 2009–24 |
| 6 | Shane Watson | RR / RCB / CSK | 145 | 4 | 3,874 | 31.0 | 2008–19 |
| 9 | AB de Villiers | Delhi / RCB | 184 | 3 | 5,162 | 39.7 | 2008–21 |
| 10 | Brendon McCullum | KKR / others | 109 | 2 | 2,880 | 27.4 | 2008–13 |
📊 The Century-Frequency Numbers Nobody Talks About
Gayle’s six centuries from 142 matches means he hit one every 23.7 games — a rate sharper than Kohli’s one every 31. Buttler’s seven from 120 is even more striking: one every 17.1 matches, the best frequency in this entire list. Warner, by contrast, took one every 46 matches for his four centuries — consistent across 184 games but rarely explosive. The takeaway: Buttler was the most dangerous century-maker per game the IPL has seen. Kohli is the most durable. Gayle sits exactly between them — and none of this shows up when you just read the headline numbers.
Most Centuries in a Single IPL Season
Only twice in IPL history has a batter hit four centuries in one edition. Sanju Samson in 2026 became the only player this season with two, matching KL Rahul’s effort in 2022.
| Rank | Player | Season | 100s | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 2016 | 4 | RCB |
| 1 | Jos Buttler | 2022 | 4 | RR |
| 3 | KL Rahul | 2022 | 2 | LSG |
| 3 | Sanju Samson | 2026 | 2 | CSK |
| 5 | Multiple players | Various | 1 | — |
🏆 The Record Nobody Expected: KL Rahul’s 152*
KL Rahul isn’t the name that comes up when people talk about IPL power-hitting. Yet he’s quietly arrived at joint-third on this list with 6 centuries — the same tally as Chris Gayle, the man once called the greatest T20 batter alive. Rahul’s sixth hundred against Punjab Kings on April 25, 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was a 152 not-out — now the highest individual score by any Indian batter in IPL history, clearing Virat Kohli’s previous best. He doesn’t make the highlight reels as often. The scorecards tell a different story.
Records Closing In — Who Can Catch Kohli?
Sanju Samson is the active player with the most direct path forward. His 115* against Delhi Capitals on April 11, 2026 was his fourth IPL century — and 12 days later he added a fifth against Mumbai Indians, becoming the only batter with two hundreds in the 2026 season. That pace, if it holds, could see him reach six before IPL 2028.
Shubman Gill (4 centuries, age 26) is the longer-term threat. At ~135 matches so far, he’s still short on the game-time that allowed Gayle and Warner to build their tallies. But if he stays at Gujarat Titans through his peak years, a decade of IPL cricket gives him a realistic shot at eight or nine. KL Rahul (6, age 34) needs three more to match Kohli — possible, but it’d require one big season per year from here on.
Kohli’s mark of 9 is safe for now. Buttler (7) has retired from the IPL, so that second spot belongs to him on paper — but the active chasing pack is closer than the gap suggests.
Kohli’s nine centuries aren’t just a record — they’re a function of what 19 consecutive seasons at the same franchise does to a player’s game. He knows the Chinnaswamy crowd, the Wankhede slope, the HPCA outfield. That familiarity creates centuries at grounds where others post 70s. The number that actually defines the record is 4 — his tally from IPL 2016 alone, still matched only by Buttler in 2022. A batter can reach four hundreds in one great season. Nine across 19 years? That’s something else.
If I had to back one active player to genuinely threaten the record in the next decade, it’s Shubman Gill, not Samson. Gill is six years younger, bats at the top, plays every season, and already has four centuries before turning 27. Samson’s record is brilliant but erratic — two 100s in a season, then a gap, then another burst. Gill grinds. That’s the profile that builds all-time records.
Most Centuries in IPL — FAQs
Who has the most centuries in IPL history?
Virat Kohli leads with 9 centuries in 279 IPL matches, all for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His ninth came on May 13, 2026 against KKR in Raipur — also the day he became the first player to score centuries against all 10 IPL franchises.
Who is second on the most IPL centuries list?
Jos Buttler is second with 7 IPL centuries from 120 matches, primarily for Rajasthan Royals. Four of those came in the 2022 season alone — equalling Kohli’s single-season record from 2016.
Who has the most centuries in a single IPL season?
Virat Kohli (RCB, 2016) and Jos Buttler (RR, 2022) jointly hold the record with 4 centuries each in one edition. No other player has scored more than 2 in a single IPL season.
Can active players break Kohli’s IPL century record?
KL Rahul (6 centuries, age 34) and Sanju Samson (5 centuries, age 31) are the nearest active threats. Shubman Gill (4 centuries, age 26) has the most realistic long-term path. Kohli’s record is safe for at least 5-7 years.
Which Indian player has the most IPL centuries?
Virat Kohli leads with 9 centuries — the most by any player, Indian or overseas. Among other active Indian players, KL Rahul has 6 and Sanju Samson has 5. Shubman Gill is next with 4.
Bottom Line
Kohli’s nine IPL centuries are a product of both peak performance and extraordinary longevity — a combination this format rarely rewards. Buttler’s seven in 120 matches is the most explosive century-rate from any player in the list’s history. The active race for the top five is genuinely open: Rahul’s 152* in 2026 proved he can still make big scores count, and Samson’s two hundreds in a single edition showed what’s possible when he stays hot. For the live IPL 2026 Orange Cap standings, see who’s in form right now, and check the most runs in IPL history page for the full batting picture.
