Most Man of the Match in IPL History

AB de Villiers holds the record for the most Man of the Match awards in IPL history, with 25 Player of the Match awards in 184 matches. Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli are joint second with 22 awards each, while Rohit Sharma follows with 21.

The award is now officially called Player of the Match, although cricket fans still commonly search for it as Man of the Match or MOTM. It is given to the player judged to have produced the most influential performance in an IPL game.

Virat Kohli made a major move up the all-time list during IPL 2026. His unbeaten 75 in the final against Gujarat Titans earned him his 22nd IPL Player of the Match award, taking him past Rohit Sharma and level with Chris Gayle.

Most Man of the Match Awards in IPL History

AB de Villiers remains clear at the top even though his final IPL season was in 2021. Kohli's rise to 22 awards in 2026 has made him the leading Indian player in the current record list.

1. AB de Villiers – 25 Man of the Match Awards

AB de Villiers has won the most Man of the Match awards in IPL history, with 25.

The South African batter played 184 IPL matches for Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Most of his defining IPL performances came during his long spell with RCB.

De Villiers could win games from very different situations. He was capable of rebuilding after early wickets, attacking spin through the middle overs or scoring rapidly at the death.

One of his best-known IPL performances came against Gujarat Lions in 2016.

De Villiers scored 129 not out from 52 balls, while Virat Kohli scored 109. Their 229-run partnership helped RCB reach 248/3 before winning by 144 runs. De Villiers was named Player of the Match.

His total of 25 awards remains the IPL benchmark through 2026.

2. Chris Gayle – 22 Man of the Match Awards

Chris Gayle won 22 Player of the Match awards in only 142 IPL matches.

That gives Gayle one of the strongest award rates among players near the top of the list.

Gayle represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kings XI Punjab during his IPL career.

His most famous performance came for RCB against Pune Warriors India in 2013, when he scored 175 not out.

It remains the highest individual score in IPL history.

Gayle was particularly difficult to stop once set because his innings could turn into match-winning scores within a few overs.

Despite playing far fewer IPL matches than most of the players around him, he accumulated 22 Player of the Match awards.

2. Virat Kohli – 22 Man of the Match Awards

Virat Kohli moved to 22 IPL Player of the Match awards during the 2026 season, drawing level with Chris Gayle and moving ahead of Rohit Sharma.

Kohli has spent his entire IPL career with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The milestone came in the IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans.

Kohli scored an unbeaten 75 from 42 balls as RCB successfully chased the target and won the IPL title. He received the Player of the Match award, taking his career total from 21 to 22.

The award also took Kohli past Rohit Sharma as the Indian player with the most IPL Player of the Match awards.

Kohli's IPL awards have come through centuries, long chases, high-pressure knocks and major playoff performances.

His 2026 final award was particularly significant because it came in a title-deciding match.

4. Rohit Sharma – 21 Man of the Match Awards

Rohit Sharma has won 21 Player of the Match awards in the IPL.

He represented Deccan Chargers early in his career before becoming one of the central figures in Mumbai Indians' rise.

Rohit's awards came across a long IPL career in which he played several different roles.

He began primarily as a middle-order batter before later moving to the top of the order. He also produced occasional bowling contributions in his early IPL years.

Rohit held the Indian Player of the Match record before Virat Kohli moved to 22 during the 2026 final.

His 21 awards still leave him ahead of most players in IPL history.

5. MS Dhoni – 18 Man of the Match Awards

MS Dhoni has won 18 IPL Player of the Match awards.

Many of Dhoni's awards came from the role that defined much of his IPL batting career: finishing an innings under pressure.

Dhoni rarely needed to face a large number of balls to influence a match.

Several of his most memorable IPL performances came through late acceleration, particularly in difficult run chases or when CSK needed a strong finish after a slow middle period.

His wicketkeeping and captaincy were also major parts of his IPL career, although Player of the Match awards generally came from performances in which his batting had a direct influence on the result.

5. David Warner – 18 Man of the Match Awards

David Warner also collected 18 Player of the Match awards during his IPL career.

The Australian opener represented Delhi and Sunrisers Hyderabad and became one of the most consistent overseas batters in league history.

Warner's ability to combine a high scoring rate with long innings made him particularly valuable at the top of the order.

He won the IPL Orange Cap three times and captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to the title in 2016.

His 18 Player of the Match awards place him level with Dhoni and Sunil Narine in the current all-time standings.

5. Sunil Narine – 18 Man of the Match Awards

Sunil Narine has also reached 18 IPL Player of the Match awards.

Unlike most players near the top of the list, Narine has earned awards through two very different skills.

He first established himself as one of the IPL's most difficult spin bowlers before later becoming an aggressive top-order batter for Kolkata Knight Riders.

His bowling can win a game through wickets and economy, while his batting can change a powerplay in only a few overs.

That dual role gives Narine more ways to produce a match-defining performance than a specialist batter or bowler.

His 18-award tally places him among the leading all-round match-winners in IPL history.

8. Ravindra Jadeja – 17 Man of the Match Awards

Ravindra Jadeja has won 17 Player of the Match awards in IPL cricket.

Jadeja's value comes from batting, bowling and fielding.

A spinner can win Player of the Match with a three or four-wicket spell. A batter can win it with an important finish.

Jadeja is capable of both, while his fielding adds another area in which he can influence a result.

His combination of skills has allowed him to remain near the top of the award list despite rarely playing the same attacking batting role as Gayle, de Villiers or Kohli.

8. KL Rahul – 17 Man of the Match Awards

KL Rahul reached 17 IPL Player of the Match awards during the 2026 season.

His 17th award came after he scored 75 against Rajasthan Royals for Delhi Capitals in May 2026.

Rahul has produced match-winning innings for multiple franchises during his IPL career.

His 2026 performances pushed him closer to the established leaders, while his ability to play both long innings and aggressive chases has helped him accumulate awards regularly.

An IPL player profile also credits Rahul with 17 career Player of the Match awards.

10. Yusuf Pathan – 16 Man of the Match Awards

Yusuf Pathan won 16 IPL Player of the Match awards in 174 matches.

He played for Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Pathan was especially dangerous during the early IPL years.

His power against both pace and spin allowed him to change a chase or batting innings rapidly.

He was also a useful off-spinner, which gave him another way to influence matches.

His performances during Rajasthan Royals' 2008 championship run remain an important part of his IPL career.

Shane Watson – 16 Man of the Match Awards

Shane Watson shares the 16-award mark.

Watson played for Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings.

His ability to open the batting and bowl medium-fast made him one of the IPL's leading all-rounders during his prime.

Watson was also named Player of the Tournament in 2008 and 2013, showing how regularly his performances influenced matches across entire seasons.

Andre Russell – 16 Man of the Match Awards

Andre Russell is another player on 16 Player of the Match awards.

Russell accumulated those awards in far fewer matches than several players around him.

His main value came from explosive middle and late-order batting combined with wicket-taking pace bowling.

A 20 or 30-ball Russell innings could completely change a match, while he was also capable of delivering important spells with the ball.

His efficiency makes his 16-award total especially impressive.

Who Has the Most Man of the Match Awards in IPL?

AB de Villiers is the player with the most Man of the Match awards in IPL history.

He won the award 25 times in 184 matches.

Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli are his closest challengers with 22 each, while Rohit Sharma has 21.

De Villiers has therefore held onto the record even several seasons after retiring from the IPL.

Most Man of the Match Awards by an Indian in IPL

Virat Kohli holds the record for the most IPL Player of the Match awards by an Indian, with 22.

He moved ahead of Rohit Sharma during the IPL 2026 final.

Kohli's position can continue to change because he remained an active IPL player in 2026, while Rohit, Jadeja and Rahul have also remained near the leading group.

Most Man of the Match Awards by an Overseas Player

AB de Villiers leads overseas players with 25 awards, followed by Chris Gayle with 22.

Three of these players — de Villiers, Gayle and Warner — built most of their award totals through top-order or middle-order batting.

Narine and Watson added major bowling contributions as all-round players.

Virat Kohli vs AB de Villiers Man of the Match Awards

AB de Villiers still leads former RCB teammate Virat Kohli in the all-time Player of the Match race.

Kohli reduced the difference to three after receiving his 22nd award in the 2026 IPL final.

De Villiers' total is fixed following his retirement, while Kohli remained active in IPL 2026.

Chris Gayle vs Virat Kohli Man of the Match Awards

Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli are now level on 22 IPL Player of the Match awards.

Gayle reached his total in 142 games, while Kohli's career has extended across every IPL season since 2008.

Their paths to the same total were different.

Gayle often won awards through explosive centuries and high-scoring innings. Kohli has accumulated his awards through a much longer IPL career featuring opening innings, chases, centuries and playoff performances.

How IPL 2026 Changed the Record

The most important movement near the top of the list came from Virat Kohli.

Before the 2026 final, Kohli and Rohit Sharma were level on 21 Player of the Match awards.

Kohli then made an unbeaten 75 against Gujarat Titans in the final and received the award for his performance.

His career tally became 22, which:

• Took him past Rohit Sharma
• Made him the Indian record holder
• Drew him level with Chris Gayle
• Left him three behind AB de Villiers

KL Rahul also climbed the all-time list during the season, reaching 17 Player of the Match awards after his 75-run innings against Rajasthan Royals.

Man of the Match vs Player of the Match in IPL

Man of the Match and Player of the Match refer to the same match award.

"Man of the Match" was the traditional cricket term and remains widely used by fans and in search queries.

"Player of the Match" is the modern term normally used in official cricket coverage.

So searches such as:

• Most Man of the Match in IPL
• Most MOTM in IPL
• Most Player of the Match awards in IPL
• IPL most Man of the Match awards

are all referring to the same basic record.

FAQs

Who has the most Man of the Match awards in IPL history?

AB de Villiers holds the record with 25 Player of the Match awards in 184 IPL matches. He is followed by Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli with 22 each.

How many Man of the Match awards does Virat Kohli have in IPL?

Virat Kohli has 22 IPL Player of the Match awards after winning the award in the 2026 final against Gujarat Titans.

How many Man of the Match awards does Rohit Sharma have in IPL?

Rohit Sharma has won 21 Player of the Match awards in his IPL career. He sits one behind Virat Kohli in the current Indian record.

Who has the most Man of the Match awards for RCB?

AB de Villiers holds the overall IPL record with 25 awards, with the majority coming during his career with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Virat Kohli has 22 IPL awards.

How many Man of the Match awards did Chris Gayle win in IPL?

Chris Gayle won 22 Player of the Match awards in 142 IPL matches. He is joint second on the all-time list with Virat Kohli.

Who has the most Player of the Match awards among Indian players in IPL?

Virat Kohli leads Indian players with 22 awards, followed by Rohit Sharma with 21. Kohli moved ahead during the 2026 IPL final.

Sources

• IPL.com – Most Player of the Match Awards in IPL History
  View IPL.com record article