Most Catches in IPL History
All lists of catches in IPL history do not include wicketkeeper dismissals. It means that Dhoni, having 148 total catches in IPL history, is not listed in any official table of catches. Virat Kohli is the leader with 117 outfield catches, holding the record for the most catches in IPL history (non-wicketkeeper).
It is not an error in the books. It is a conscious difference. A wicketkeeper is two feet behind the stumps and wears gloves. An outfielder runs, jumps, and catches with bare hands. Both are distinct, and thus, they are counted separately.
What is really impressive about the record of Virat Kohli is that 117 outfield catches in 18 seasons, in one franchise, and also being the all time IPL run scorer, was no time to be standing on the rail. He was working. For more details, continue reading the post on your IPL news.
All-Time Top 10 – Most Catches in IPL History (Outfield Fielders)
This list highlights the players with the most catches in IPL history among outfield fielders.
| No. | Fielder | Catches | Matches | Catches/Match | Primary Position | Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 121+ | 273+ | 0.44 | Cover, deep midwicket | RCB only |
| 2 | Ravindra Jadeja | 110+ | 261+ | 0.42 | Point, everywhere | CSK, RPS |
| 3 | Suresh Raina | 109 | 205 | 0.53 | Cover, point | CSK, GL |
| 4 | Kieron Pollard | 103 | 189 | 0.54 | Long-on, long-off | MI |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma | 102+ | 276+ | 0.36 | Slips, inner circle | MI only |
| 6 | Shikhar Dhawan | 99 | 222 | 0.44 | Outfield, covers | Multiple |
| 7 | AB de Villiers | 90 | 184 | 0.69 | Anywhere | RCB |
| 8 | David Warner | 86 | 184 | 0.46 | Outfield | SRH, DC, PBKS |
| 9 | Faf du Plessis | 85 | 154 | 0.55 | Boundary rider | Multiple |
| 10 | David Miller | 83 | 147 | 0.56 | Boundary, slips | Multiple |
The Wicketkeeper Catches – Why This List Exists Separately
| Wicketkeeper | Status | Total Dismissals | Catches | Stumpings | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | Active (CSK) | 201 | 154 | 47 | 278 |
| Dinesh Karthik | Retired | 182 | 145 | 37 | 257 |
| Wriddhiman Saha | Retired | 119 | 93 | 26 | 170 |
| Rishabh Pant | Active (LSG) | 110 | 86 | 24 | 132 |
| Quinton de Kock | Active (MI) | 92 | 75 | 17 | 118 |
Dhoni’s 30 stumpings are the most by any wicketkeeper in IPL history. No other keeper has more than 23. That gap of 7 stumpings in a format where batters rarely leave their crease tells you how fast Dhoni’s glove work was behind the stumps.
4 Things the Outfield Catches Table Does Not Tell You
In the top 5, Pollard does have the largest catches-per-match ratio of 0.54. But he comes 4th on the overall list.
In the top 5, Pollard does have the largest catches-per-match ratio of 0.54. But he comes 4th on the overall list.
Pollard has played 189 games in comparison to Kohli with 267. Had Pollard played as many games as Kohli, he would have had an approximate of 144 catches. That would put him at the head of this list of 27 catches unchallenged. He also retired 78 matches before it was time to take the record.
The second highest in the top 10 is the 0.53 catches per match of Raina. He made catches with an indication that he was in the right position at all times.
Raina spent his IPL career at cover point for CSK. MS Dhoni knew exactly where to put him. Raina did not just take catches. He was positioned to take the catches that mattered most. His ratio reflects a captain’s tactical intelligence as much as his own ability.
Jadeja is the only player in IPL history to score 1,000 runs, take 100 wickets, and take 100 outfield catches.
He crossed all three milestones in the same career. No other player has come close to that triple combination. Jadeja’s 106 catches are not just a fielding stat. They are the third pillar of the most complete all-round IPL career the tournament has produced.
Du Plessis has the greatest ratio of catches per match in the whole of the top 10 at 0.57. He has made 126 less appearances than Kohli.
Faf du Plessis had 141 matches and had 81 catches. Kohli has played 267 matches, and scored 117. Du Plessis makes a catch in every 1.74 matches. Kohli plays in one out of 2.28 matches. Had du Plessis played as many years as Kohli, his cumulative cross would be over 150. The most efficient catcher in the list is the least number in matches.
Most Catches in a Single IPL Season
| Season | Fielder | Team | Catches | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Shubman Gill | GT | 17 | 17 |
| 2019 | David Warner | SRH | 14 | 12 |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 13 | 16 |
| 2024 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 13 | 15 |
| 2022 | Hardik Pandya | GT | 13 | 16 |
The single-season record in the most catches in IPL history is 17 catches by Shubman Gill in IPL 2023. He carried them through 17 games. One catch per match in a whole tournament is just that. None of the fielders in the history of IPL has been that consistent in the entire season.
In 2019, it was a 14 out of 12 matches that David Warner achieved. He had over one catch per match during a complete season. The record is the highest number of catches per match per any fielder in an IPL tournament.
Will the Most Catches in IPL History Record Be Broken?
Virat Kohli remains active in IPL 2026, adding 10-13 catches to a full season at his current pace. His record for the most catches in IPL history is increasing in itself.
Jadeja is the most probable active challenger with 106 catches. To take the record he requires 12 more. His present ratio of about 10 catches per season would see him outdo Kohli within one or two seasons should the two play entire seasons.
Another name to follow is Shubman Gill. His 2023 season, with 17 catches, indicated that he is able to amass catches more quickly than any of the existing top 10. He is 24 years old. Assuming that he performs 12 more full IPL seasons at such a rate, the figure is truly historic.
This record for the most catches in IPL history will change hands within 3 years. The only question is whether it goes to Jadeja quickly or to Gill over a longer period.
