Most Player of the Match Awards by Indian Players in IPL
The Player of the Match award is given to the cricketer who produces the most influential performance in an IPL game. A batter can win it with a match-winning innings, a bowler with a decisive spell, or an all-rounder through contributions in both departments.
Virat Kohli holds the record for the most Player of the Match awards by an Indian player in IPL history, with 22 awards through IPL 2026. Rohit Sharma is second with 21, followed by MS Dhoni with 18. Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul have won 17 each, while Yusuf Pathan finished his IPL career with 16.
Kohli moved ahead of Rohit during the IPL 2026 final, when his unbeaten 75 helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeat Gujarat Titans.
Most Player of the Match Awards by Indian Players in IPL
| Rank | Player | Player of the Match Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 22 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | 21 |
| 3 | MS Dhoni | 18 |
| 4 | Ravindra Jadeja | 17 |
| 4 | KL Rahul | 17 |
| 6 | Yusuf Pathan | 16 |
| 7 | Suresh Raina | 14 |
| 8 | Gautam Gambhir | 13 |
| 8 | Ajinkya Rahane | 13 |
| 10 | Shikhar Dhawan | 12 |
| 10 | Amit Mishra | 12 |
Virat Kohli became the Indian record-holder during IPL 2026 after spending several seasons close to Rohit Sharma at the top of the list.
1. Virat Kohli – 22 Player of the Match Awards
Virat Kohli has won the most Player of the Match awards by an Indian in IPL history, with 22.
Kohli has represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru throughout his IPL career and has produced match-winning performances across several different eras of the tournament.
His awards include centuries, high-scoring chases and important performances in major matches.
Virat Kohli IPL POTM Record
| Record | Kohli |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 22 |
| IPL Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Main Role | Batter |
| Indian Rank | 1st |
| Overall IPL Rank | Joint 2nd |
Kohli is also one of only three players to reach 22 Player of the Match awards in IPL history.
Kohli Became No. 1 Among Indians in IPL 2026
Virat Kohli entered the closing stages of IPL 2026 level with Rohit Sharma on 21 Player of the Match awards.
The record changed in the final.
RCB were chasing 156 against Gujarat Titans.
Kohli scored 75 not out from 42 balls and guided Bengaluru to the target with two overs remaining.
He was named Player of the Match.
That award took his career total to 22, moving him past Rohit's 21.
Virat Kohli's Player of the Match Award in IPL 2026 Final
The IPL 2026 final became one of the most important individual matches of Kohli's league career.
Gujarat Titans scored 155/8.
Kohli then controlled the chase for RCB.
He reached his fifty in 25 balls before remaining unbeaten on 75.
The innings helped RCB win by five wickets and secure another IPL championship.
It also gave Kohli the Indian record for the most IPL Player of the Match awards.
Kohli's Famous IPL Match-Winning Performances
Kohli's POTM awards include several memorable batting performances.
His extraordinary IPL 2016 season alone produced multiple match-winning innings.
During that campaign, he scored 973 runs and four centuries.
Kohli has also received Player of the Match awards for big chases and centuries in later IPL seasons.
Most Player of the Match Awards by an Indian in One IPL Season
Kohli's 2016 campaign produced one of the strongest individual seasons in IPL history.
He won five Player of the Match awards during that tournament.
His performances included four centuries, seven half-centuries, 973 runs, the Orange Cap and multiple match-winning innings.
Five Player of the Match awards in one season remains one of the best totals by an Indian player.
2. Rohit Sharma – 21 Awards
Rohit Sharma ranks second among Indian players with 21 IPL Player of the Match awards.
He held the Indian record before Kohli moved past him in the 2026 final.
Rohit began his IPL career with Deccan Chargers before joining Mumbai Indians in 2011.
Rohit Sharma IPL POTM Record
| Record | Rohit Sharma |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 21 |
| IPL Teams | Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians |
| Main Role | Batter |
| Indian Rank | 2nd |
Rohit's awards cover a long IPL career that includes both batting performances and important contributions during Mumbai's championship years.
Rohit Sharma's Long-Time Lead
Rohit was the leading Indian Player of the Match award winner for several years.
He reached 19 awards before Kohli and Dhoni had caught him.
Rohit later moved to 20 and eventually 21.
By May 2026, Kohli had joined him on 21 before moving ahead in the final.
The battle between Kohli and Rohit has therefore changed several times during recent IPL seasons.
Rohit Sharma's Role With Mumbai Indians
Rohit has produced most of his Player of the Match performances while representing Mumbai Indians.
He has played both middle-order and opening roles during his career.
His ability to score big innings while also captaining MI through their most successful period helped make him one of the defining players of the franchise.
3. MS Dhoni – 18 Awards
MS Dhoni is third among Indian players with 18 Player of the Match awards.
His record is especially impressive because he has spent most of his career batting in the middle or lower order.
Unlike an opener, Dhoni often gets only a limited number of deliveries to influence a match with the bat.
MS Dhoni IPL POTM Record
| Record | Dhoni |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 18 |
| Main IPL Team | Chennai Super Kings |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Indian Rank | 3rd |
Dhoni has won awards through explosive finishing innings, successful chases and contributions behind the stumps.
Dhoni's 18th Player of the Match Award
Dhoni reached his 18th IPL Player of the Match award during IPL 2025.
Playing against Lucknow Super Giants, he produced an unbeaten lower-order innings and also contributed behind the stumps.
The performance took him past several other Indian greats on the all-time list.
Dhoni was also more than 43 years old at the time, making him one of the oldest players ever to receive the award in IPL cricket.
MS Dhoni as a Finisher
Many of Dhoni's best IPL performances have come during run chases.
His calmness in the final overs became a major part of Chennai Super Kings' identity.
He has won matches with late sixes, controlled required run rates and repeatedly remained unbeaten while completing chases.
That finishing role helped him build 18 Player of the Match awards despite rarely batting in the top order.
4. Ravindra Jadeja – 17 Awards
Ravindra Jadeja has won 17 IPL Player of the Match awards.
His position near the top is built on all-round performances.
Jadeja can influence a game through batting, left-arm spin, fielding, run-outs and catches.
That gives him more ways to produce a match-winning performance than a specialist player.
Ravindra Jadeja IPL POTM Record
| Record | Jadeja |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 17 |
| Main IPL Team | Chennai Super Kings |
| Role | All-Rounder |
| Indian Rank | Joint 4th |
Jadeja has produced some of his biggest IPL performances for Chennai Super Kings.
Jadeja's 2021 Performance Against RCB
One of Jadeja's greatest IPL matches came against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2021.
He scored 62 not out from 28 balls.
During the final over of CSK's innings, he scored 37 runs from Harshal Patel's over, including the no-ball.
Jadeja then took 3/13 with the ball.
He also contributed in the field.
It remains one of the strongest all-round performances in IPL history and earned him the Player of the Match award.
5. KL Rahul – 17 Awards
KL Rahul is level with Jadeja on 17 Player of the Match awards.
Rahul has accumulated his awards mainly through top-order batting performances.
He has represented several teams, including Kings XI Punjab/Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals.
KL Rahul IPL POTM Record
| Record | KL Rahul |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 17 |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Indian Rank | Joint 4th |
Rahul's tally has risen quickly during recent IPL seasons.
His combination of high batting average, centuries and successful chases has produced numerous match-winning performances.
KL Rahul's Rise in the POTM Rankings
Rahul had 12 Player of the Match awards by IPL 2024.
He increased that figure significantly during the following seasons.
By IPL 2025 he had moved to 15.
Further match-winning innings pushed him to 17 by IPL 2026, putting him level with Ravindra Jadeja.
Rahul therefore remains one of the active players capable of moving higher on the list.
KL Rahul in Run Chases
Several of Rahul's awards have come while chasing.
He has one of the strongest batting averages in IPL run chases and frequently bats deep into the innings.
An unbeaten 93 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 was one such performance.
Delhi Capitals had been in trouble before Rahul guided the side to victory.
6. Yusuf Pathan – 16 Awards
Yusuf Pathan finished his IPL career with 16 Player of the Match awards.
That total is remarkable considering he played only 174 matches.
Pathan could change a game very quickly with either powerful batting or off-spin.
Yusuf Pathan IPL POTM Record
| Record | Yusuf Pathan |
|---|---|
| Matches | 174 |
| POTM Awards | 16 |
| Main Teams | Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Role | All-Rounder |
He was one of the most destructive Indian hitters during the early years of the IPL.
Yusuf Pathan in the 2008 IPL Final
Pathan produced one of his greatest performances in the first IPL final.
Rajasthan Royals faced Chennai Super Kings.
Pathan took 3 wickets and then scored 56 runs during the chase.
Rajasthan won the match and became the first IPL champions.
Pathan was named Player of the Match in the final.
Yusuf Pathan's 37-Ball Century
Pathan also produced one of the fastest centuries in IPL history.
He scored a 37-ball hundred for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians in 2010.
His innings included powerful six-hitting and almost completed an extraordinary chase.
Performances of that type helped him collect 16 career Player of the Match awards.
7. Suresh Raina – 14 Awards
Suresh Raina won 14 Player of the Match awards during his IPL career.
Most came while representing Chennai Super Kings.
Raina was one of the tournament's most consistent batters during its first decade.
Suresh Raina IPL POTM Record
| Record | Raina |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 14 |
| IPL Matches | 205 |
| Main Team | Chennai Super Kings |
| Role | Batter |
His record includes match-winning league performances and important playoff innings.
Raina's 87 From 25 Balls
One of Raina's most famous innings came against Kings XI Punjab in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2014.
He scored 87 from only 25 balls.
Although CSK eventually lost the match, the innings remains one of the greatest playoff performances ever seen in the competition.
Raina's aggressive batting earned him the nickname "Mr IPL" during his career.
8. Gautam Gambhir – 13 Awards
Gautam Gambhir finished with 13 IPL Player of the Match awards.
He represented Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Gambhir scored more than 4,000 IPL runs and played many important innings at the top of the order.
Gautam Gambhir IPL POTM Record
| Record | Gambhir |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 13 |
| IPL Teams | Delhi Daredevils, KKR |
| Main Role | Opening Batter |
He was also captain when Kolkata Knight Riders won IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.
8. Ajinkya Rahane – 13 Awards
Ajinkya Rahane also has 13 IPL Player of the Match awards.
Rahane has represented several IPL teams during a long career.
His best years came mainly as a top-order batter.
Ajinkya Rahane IPL POTM Record
| Record | Rahane |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 13 |
| Main Role | Batter |
| Indian Rank | Joint 8th |
Rahane's awards include centuries and high-scoring opening performances.
10. Shikhar Dhawan – 12 Awards
Shikhar Dhawan finished his IPL career with 12 Player of the Match awards.
He scored 6,769 IPL runs and became one of the competition's highest run-scorers.
Dhawan generally won his awards through major opening innings.
Shikhar Dhawan IPL POTM Record
| Record | Dhawan |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 12 |
| IPL Runs | 6,769 |
| Role | Opening Batter |
His consistency across several franchises kept him among the leading Indian IPL performers for more than a decade.
10. Amit Mishra – 12 Awards
Amit Mishra also won 12 Player of the Match awards.
He stands out because the top of the Indian list is dominated by batters and all-rounders.
Mishra earned his awards primarily through leg-spin bowling.
Amit Mishra IPL POTM Record
| Record | Mishra |
|---|---|
| Player of the Match Awards | 12 |
| Role | Leg-Spinner |
| IPL Hat-Tricks | 3 |
Mishra is the only player in IPL history to take three hat-tricks.
His position on the Player of the Match list reflects how regularly his bowling won games.
Indian Players With 10 or More IPL POTM Awards
Several Indian players have reached double figures.
| Player | POTM Awards |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 22 |
| Rohit Sharma | 21 |
| MS Dhoni | 18 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 17 |
| KL Rahul | 17 |
| Yusuf Pathan | 16 |
| Suresh Raina | 14 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 13 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 13 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 12 |
| Amit Mishra | 12 |
| Virender Sehwag | 11 |
| Sanju Samson | 11+ |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 11+ |
| Shubman Gill | 11+ |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 10+ |
| Umesh Yadav | 10 |
| Ambati Rayudu | 10 |
The totals of active players can continue to rise in future IPL seasons.
Most Player of the Match Awards in IPL Overall
Virat Kohli is No. 1 among Indian players, but the overall IPL record belongs to AB de Villiers.
| Rank | Player | POTM Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AB de Villiers | 25 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | 22 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | 22 |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma | 21 |
| 5 | MS Dhoni | 18 |
Kohli is therefore tied with Chris Gayle for second place overall.
He needs three more awards to equal AB de Villiers' record of 25.
AB de Villiers vs Virat Kohli POTM Awards
| Player | Awards |
|---|---|
| AB de Villiers | 25 |
| Virat Kohli | 22 |
| Difference | 3 |
Both players spent the majority of their IPL careers with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Their combined number of Player of the Match performances reflects the huge role they played in the franchise's batting history.
Kohli vs Rohit Player of the Match Awards
The race between Kohli and Rohit is extremely close.
| Player | POTM Awards |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 22 |
| Rohit Sharma | 21 |
| Difference | 1 |
Rohit led the Indian ranking for several years.
Kohli drew level at 21 during IPL 2026 and then moved ahead by winning the award in the final.
Only one award currently separates the two.
Kohli vs Dhoni IPL POTM Awards
| Player | POTM Awards |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 22 |
| MS Dhoni | 18 |
| Difference | 4 |
Their batting roles are very different.
Kohli has spent most of his career in the top order, giving him more deliveries to produce large scores.
Dhoni has generally batted in the middle or lower order and has won many of his awards through finishing performances.
Most POTM Awards by an Indian All-Rounder
Ravindra Jadeja leads the Indian all-rounders with 17 awards.
Yusuf Pathan is next with 16.
| All-Rounder | POTM Awards |
|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | 17 |
| Yusuf Pathan | 16 |
Both players have won matches through batting and bowling, giving them multiple ways to claim the award.
Most POTM Awards by an Indian Bowler
Amit Mishra is among the leading specialist Indian bowlers in this category with 12 Player of the Match awards.
Jasprit Bumrah has also reached double figures.
Bowling-based Player of the Match awards can be harder to accumulate because batters often receive more opportunities to produce headline numbers.
Mishra's 12 awards therefore stand out.
Most POTM Awards in an IPL Final by Indian Players
IPL finals have produced several Indian Player of the Match winners.
Notable examples include:
| Season | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Yusuf Pathan | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2017 | Krunal Pandya | Mumbai Indians |
| 2019 | Jasprit Bumrah | Mumbai Indians |
| 2022 | Hardik Pandya | Gujarat Titans |
| 2025 | Krunal Pandya | RCB |
| 2026 | Virat Kohli | RCB |
Winning the award in a final carries additional significance because the performance directly contributes to an IPL championship.
Krunal Pandya's IPL Final POTM Record
Krunal Pandya has produced particularly strong performances in IPL finals.
He won the Player of the Match award in the 2017 final for Mumbai Indians.
Years later, he again received the award in the IPL 2025 final while representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
That makes him one of the rare players to receive Player of the Match awards in multiple IPL finals.
Jasprit Bumrah's 2019 Final Award
Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Match in the IPL 2019 final.
Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by just one run.
Bumrah returned outstanding bowling figures in an extremely low-scoring and tense match.
His spell played a major part in MI successfully defending 149.
Hardik Pandya's 2022 Final
Hardik Pandya produced an all-round performance for Gujarat Titans in the 2022 IPL final against Rajasthan Royals.
He took important wickets and then contributed with the bat during the chase.
GT won the championship in their debut season.
Hardik received the Player of the Match award.
Batters Dominate the IPL POTM List
The Indian leaderboard is dominated by batters.
Kohli, Rohit, Dhoni, Rahul, Raina, Gambhir, Rahane and Dhawan all appear near the top.
Players batting in the top order naturally have more opportunities to produce large scores.
All-rounders such as Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan can compensate by contributing in multiple departments.
Amit Mishra is one of the few specialist bowlers to rank highly.
Active Indian Players Who Can Move Up the List
Several active Indian players remain capable of moving higher in future IPL seasons.
Virat Kohli currently leads with 22.
Rohit Sharma is only one behind.
KL Rahul has already reached 17.
Players such as Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav also continue to add match-winning performances to their career records.
Who Has the Most Player of the Match Awards by an Indian in IPL?
Virat Kohli holds the record with 22 Player of the Match awards through IPL 2026.
Rohit Sharma is second with 21.
MS Dhoni is third with 18.
Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul share fourth place with 17 each.
Yusuf Pathan is next with 16.
Top 5 Indian Players With Most IPL POTM Awards
1. Virat Kohli – 22
2. Rohit Sharma – 21
3. MS Dhoni – 18
4. Ravindra Jadeja – 17
5. KL Rahul – 17
Only four awards separate Kohli from Dhoni despite all three having played very different batting roles.
FAQs
Which Indian player has won the most Player of the Match awards in IPL?
Virat Kohli holds the record with 22 awards through IPL 2026.
How many IPL Player of the Match awards has Virat Kohli won?
Kohli has won 22.
How many Player of the Match awards has Rohit Sharma won in IPL?
Rohit Sharma has won 21 awards.
How many IPL POTM awards has MS Dhoni won?
MS Dhoni has won 18.
How many Player of the Match awards has Ravindra Jadeja won?
Jadeja has won 17 IPL Player of the Match awards.
How many IPL Player of the Match awards has KL Rahul won?
KL Rahul has won 17.
How many POTM awards did Yusuf Pathan win?
Yusuf Pathan finished with 16 awards.
How many Player of the Match awards did Suresh Raina win?
Suresh Raina won 14.
Who has the most IPL Player of the Match awards overall?
AB de Villiers holds the overall record with 25 awards.
Where does Virat Kohli rank overall?
Kohli is tied with Chris Gayle on 22 awards, behind AB de Villiers.
When did Kohli become the Indian player with the most IPL POTM awards?
He moved ahead of Rohit Sharma during the IPL 2026 final.
Who won Player of the Match in the IPL 2026 final?
Virat Kohli won the award after scoring 75 not out from 42 balls for RCB against Gujarat Titans.
Which Indian all-rounder has the most IPL POTM awards?
Ravindra Jadeja leads with 17.
Which Indian specialist bowler has one of the most IPL POTM awards?
Amit Mishra has won 12 Player of the Match awards.
How many Player of the Match awards separate Kohli and Rohit?
Only one award separates them through IPL 2026.
Rivcky John
A prominent figure in sports journalism for the last two decades. Cricket Analyst & Writing News, Features, Match Previews/Reviews/Reports, And Opinion Pieces on Cricket. You can connect with him on Facebook also.