The Indian Premier League (IPL) is known as one of the toughest cricket leagues worldwide, where small mistakes can change the game’s outcome in just a few balls. In this highly competitive environment, the most successful captains in IPL have shown exceptional leadership and strategy.
In tournaments like the IPL, a captain must stay alert because even a single error can lead to losing a match. Leading a team is not as easy as it seems. Besides guiding the team from the front, the captain must ensure that all 11 players are working together. Over the years, many notable players have captained various franchises in the IPL. While some have struggled, a few have achieved great success. This article highlights the best captains in IPL history.
Top 10 most successful Captains in IPL History (Minimum 80 Matches)
| S.No | Player | Teams Captained | Matches | Won | Lost | Win % | Titles Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings/Rising Pune Supergiants | 226 | 133 | 91 | 59.37 | 5 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | 158 | 87 | 67 | 56.32 | 5 |
| 3 | Gautam Gambhir | Delhi Capitals/Kolkata Knight Riders | 129 | 71 | 57 | 55.42 | 2 |
| 4 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad/Delhi Capitals | 83 | 40 | 41 | 49.39 | 1 |
| 5 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 143 | 66 | 70 | 48.56 | 0 |
| 6 | Adam Gilchrist | Deccan Chargers/Punjab Kings | 74 | 35 | 39 | 47.29 | 1 |
| 7 | Shane Warne | Rajasthan Royals | 55 | 30 | 24 | 55.45 | 1 |
| 8 | Sachin Tendulkar | Mumbai Indians | 51 | 30 | 21 | 58.82 | 0 |
| 9 | Virender Sehwag | Delhi Capitals/Punjab Kings | 53 | 28 | 24 | 55.45 | 0 |
| 10 | Shreyas Iyer | Delhi Capitals/Kolkata Knight Riders | 55 | 27 | 26 | 50.90 | 0 |
1. MS Dhoni: The Best Captain with 133 Wins
MS Dhoni is celebrated as the best captain in IPL history. He led the Chennai Super Kings and the now-defunct Rising Pune Super Giants. Known as “Captain Cool,” Dhoni is admired for his cricketing intelligence. At 42 years old, he has captained 226 matches, winning 133, with a winning percentage of 59.37 and 91 losses.
Under his leadership, the Chennai Super Kings secured five IPL titles, making them one of the most successful teams in the league. Dhoni’s strategic mindset has significantly contributed to CSK’s strong presence in the tournament. Before IPL 2024, he stepped down as captain and handed the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
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2. Rohit Sharma: 87 Wins as Captain
Rohit Sharma ranks as the second-best captain in IPL history. Until 2013, the Mumbai Indians struggled in the tournament, but everything changed when Rohit took over as captain midway through that season.
In his first season, he led the team to victory, and he continued this success by winning four more titles in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, making Mumbai Indians the most successful team in the IPL. Rohit captained 158 matches, winning 87, with a win percentage of 56.32. He has never lost a final as captain in the league.
3. Gautam Gambhir: 71 Wins as Captain
Gautam Gambhir had a significant impact as captain for both Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders. Although his time with Delhi was not very successful, he transformed Kolkata into a powerful franchise.
Under his leadership, KKR became a strong contender in the league, achieving two title wins in 2012 and 2014. Gambhir played 129 matches as captain, winning 71 and losing 57, giving him a win percentage of 55.42.
4. David Warner: 40 Wins as Captain
David Warner is recognized as one of the best overseas players in the IPL. He is also the top run-scorer among foreign batters. Warner excelled as captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, leading them to victory in IPL 2016 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final. He also captained the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022, but the season was less successful.
Overall, Warner captained 83 matches, winning 40 and losing 41, with a win percentage of 49.39.
5. Virat Kohli: 66 Wins as Captain
Virat Kohli is ranked as the fifth-best captain in IPL history, even though he did not win the IPL trophy. As a key player for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli has been instrumental in establishing the franchise as a formidable force in the league.
During his time as captain, RCB achieved several notable victories and reached the finals in 2016. Kohli captained 143 matches, winning 66 and losing 70, resulting in a win percentage of 48.56.
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