5 Most Successful captains in IPL history
In this piece, we are about to discuss the 5 best skippers in IPL history on the basis of the number of games won by them, titles won by them while captaining their side and their winning percentage as skippers.
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MS Dhoni (L), Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya (R)
A captain’s job is quite arduous when it comes to leading an Indian Premier League (IPL) team. Fans and franchises have a lot of expectations from their sides. Skippers leading their teams need to show consistency to maintain the winning run so as to be on top. A captain needs to be mentally strong, select a team combination that gives positive results, maintain calmness during pressure situations and needs to keep the team together.
In this piece, we are about to discuss the 5 best skippers in IPL history on the basis of the number of games won by them, titles won by them while captaining their side and their winning percentage as skippers. The captains mentioned in the list have showcased their commitment, made tactical changes and have made bold decisions on the field that have been beneficial for their sides.
These captains differ in temperament and decision making but they have been able to produce the goods for their sides and their franchises. These captains have also made crucial changes in playing eleven in the absence of their key players which has highlighted their clever man-management. We take a look at 5 such skippers who have been successful in the IPL due to their outstanding leadership roles.
| Player | Mat | Won | Lost | % | Titles won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 225 | 132 | 91 | 58.66 | 4 |
| Rohit Sharma | 158 | 87 | 67 | 55.06 | 5 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 129 | 71 | 57 | 55.03 | 2 |
| Shane Warne | 55 | 30 | 24 | 54.54 | 1 |
| Hardik Pandya | 30 | 22 | 8 | 73.33 | 1 |
# 1 Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
Rohit Sharma was handed the captaincy in 2013 and since then has shown great maturity in handling the responsibility. The right-hander has showcased his intelligence in making changes in the field positions depending on the opposition batsmen’s style of play. The 35-year-old has been street smart in his captaincy and this has helped Mumbai Indians (MI) fetch as many as five IPL titles.
Sharma won 5 titles in 2013, 2015,2017,2019 and 2020. He has won 87 out of 158 games he captained in the IPL and lost 67 with 4 games involved in tie. His win percentage as skipper of the Mumbai Indians team is 55.06.
Also Read: Captains with highest winning percentage in IPL history
# 2 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
The former India skipper led the Chennai Super Kings to four title wins in 2010,2011, 2018, and 2021. Dhoni, with his calm temperament and clever aptitude, always picked a combination depending on the opposition’s strengths. The 41-year-old’s clever on-field decision-making and his ability to think out of the box have brought success to Chennai Super Kings.
The Ranchi-born cricketer earned the badge of ‘Captain Cool’ for his calm attitude even in the most tense situations. The wicket-keeper batsman won 132 out of 225 games while captaining Chennai Super Kings, lost 91 games and 2 game involved in no result. The 2011 World Cup-winning captain’s win percentage as skipper in the IPL is 58.66.
#3 Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)
The former India opener was known for his gritty on-your-face attitude and for making clever changes as far as the team formation was concerned. Gambhir read the situation well under pressure and made changes in the field as per the opposition batsmen’s weakness.
The left-hander earlier captained the Delhi Daredevils before captaining Kolkata Knight Riders. Gambhir backed his bowlers and shuffled the batting order cleverly while chasing a big target depending on the situation. Gambhir won 2 IPL titles in 2012 and 2014 while captaining Kolkata Knight Riders. The 39-year-old won 71 out of 129 games, lost 57 games and 1 game involved in a tie. His win percentage as a skipper in IPL is 55.03.
#4 Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals)
A stalwart of International Cricket, the late Shane Warne inspired youngsters of the Rajasthan Royals team to a famous title win in 2008. The leg spinner brought the best out of his players and made them believe in their abilities. Warne was instrumental in guiding the likes of Swapnil Asnodkar, Siddharth Trivedi and a young Ravindra Jadeja to success and made them believe that nothing is impossible if you play to your capabilities and show commitment.
Whether it was his quick decision-making, his clever bowling changes or field placing, Warne’s all-round leadership skills showcased that a team can win even though it doesn’t consist of big players. The former Australian skipper brought the best out of his players. His smart man-management played a big role in the team’s success. Warne won 1 IPL title in 2008 as a skipper. He won 30 out of 55 games in his IPL career and lost 24 with 1 involved in a tie. His win percentage in the IPL as skipper is 54.54.
#5 Hardik Pandya (Gujarat Titans)
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was appointed the captain of one of the two new franchises in IPL 2022- Gujarat Titans and the decision was an instant hit. Pandya churned out some unbelievable results for his franchise and eventually led them to their maiden IPL title. Gujarat beat some tough opponents on their road to glory and Pandya impressed everyone with his on-field decisions.
While many termed the results in the first edition a fluke, Pandya with the help of Ashish Nehra proved everyone wrong as GT qualified for IPL 2023 Final as well. The Hardik Pandya-led team won ten out of their fourteen matches in the league stage. These wins bolstered Hardik Pandya’s record as an IPL captain as he now stands fifth on the list of most successful IPL captains. Pandya has an impressive win percentage (73.33) in 30 matches. He has won 22 and lost 8 games in his IPL career as a captain.
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Devang Rajanikant Joshi
(143 Articles Published)