He was born in Bombay and studied in St Xavier's College. He played domestic cricket for Bombay from 1938–39 to 1949–50 as a top-order batsman, occasionally opening the batting. He also played for the Muslims in the Bombay Pentangular. He holds the record for scoring the most first class runs between dismissals:^[1] in 1947–48, he compiled successive innings of 218, 36, 234 and 77, all not out, followed by 144, a total of 709 runs between dismissals.^[1] Ibrahim is the only player to have carried his bat while scoring a double century in consecutive first-class matches.^[2] He scored 1,171 runs that season, at a batting average of 167.29, and was selected as Indian Cricketer of the Year in 1948. He was captain of the Bombay side that won the 1948 Ranji Trophy, scoring 219 in the final.^{[citation needed]}

His career first class batting average of 61.24 is the ninth-highest in history (among those who have batted at least 50 times),^[3] but he played only four Tests, against West Indies in 1948–49. Opening the batting with Vinoo Mankad, he scored 85 and 44 in the 1st Test,^[4] but made only 40 runs in his next six Test innings.^{[citation needed]}

He suffered from poor health in his later years. He died at his home in Karachi, in Pakistan, aged 88. He was the oldest living Indian Test cricketer at the time of his death.^[5]

• K. C. Ibrahim at CricketArchive (subscription required)
• K. C. Ibrahim at ESPNcricinfo
• "Bat like KC and the runs will come", ESPNcricinfo, 12 November 2007
• "KC Ibrahim dies aged 88", ESPNcricinfo, 12 November 2007