Who is the Best Captain in India Cricket History? MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, or Virat Kohli

kaiggy12 31 January 2025 09:45

Who is the Best Captain in India Cricket History?

Some of the most famous captains in India cricket history have each had a distinct style of leadership. Among the most debated names are MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli. Because of Dhoni's ability to win every ICC trophy, his unparalleled leadership contribution to Indian cricket, and his composure under pressure, MS Dhoni stands out as the best captain if one had to choose.

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Here are the detailed match statistics for players who have captained the Indian cricket team in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is:

PlayerSpanMatchesWonLostTiedDrawW/L%W%L
MS Dhoni2007-20183321781206151.4853.61%36.14%
M Azharuddin1990-1999221104902191.1547.05%40.72%
V Kohli2013-2022213135603112.2563.38%28.16%
S Ganguly1999-200519697790151.2249.48%40.3%
R Sharma2017-202413495
33232.8770.89%24.62%
K Dev1982-198710843401221.0739.81%37.03%
R Dravid2000-200710450390111.2848.07%37.5%
S Tendulkar1996-20009827521120.5127.55%53.06%
S Gavaskar1976-19858423290300.7927.38%34.52%
A Kumble1990-20001465121.242.85%35.71%
N Pataudi1962-1975409191110.4722.5%47.5%
G Gambhir2009-20101164011.554.54%36.36%
A Wadekar1971-19741665051.237.5%31.25%

Also Check: Top 10 most successful captains in India cricket

MS Dhoni

Having guided the side to three ICC championships—the Champions Trophy (2013), the ODI World Cup (2011), and the T20 World Cup (2007)—known as “Captain Cool,” he revolutionized Indian cricket with his exceptional decision-making.

MS Dhoni

Virat Kohli

With 40 Test victories, Kohli is India's most successful Test captain. One of the greatest records in Test history was produced by his aggressive style. For a few years, Kohli dominated the ICC Test rankings.

Virat Kohli

Rohit Sharma

Rohit won five IPL championships and is an excellent leader. He has also won the 2023 Asia Cup. And he is now the captain of India with the highest winning percentage of the team.

Rohit Sharma

Sourav Ganguly

Ganguly revitalized Indian cricket and led India to the 2003 ICC World Cup final and several memorable overseas victories.

Sourav Ganguly

Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev’s 1983 World Cup triumph remains one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history. His leadership brought self-belief to Indian cricket.

Kapil Dev

Mohammad Azharuddin

Azharuddin captained India in 174 matches and brought stability to the team during the 1990s.

Mohammad Azharuddin

Ajit Wadekar

Wadekar led India to it’s first-ever Test series wins overseas, against England and the West Indies in 1971.

Ajit Wadekar

Rahul Dravid

Dravid’s tenure saw India achieve a historic Test series win in England in 2007. He emphasized discipline and team-building.

Rahul Dravid

Anil Kumble

Kumble led with integrity, achieving a notable series win against Pakistan and providing stability during a transitional phase.

Anil Kumble

Nawab Pataudi

Pataudi is remembered for his bold leadership, encouraging the team to play fearless cricket despite limited resources.

Nawab Pataudi

Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir led India to the 2010 Asia Cup, exhibiting his exceptional leadership.

Gautam Gambhir

How Many Captains Have Led the Indian Cricket Team in ICC Finals?

The Indian team has reached the ICC finals a total of 10 times under different captains. Captains MS Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly both performed well, reaching the final with the most three times.

PlayerICC Tournament Final PlayedYearOutcome
MS Dhoni2007 T20 World Cup Final2007Won
2011 World Cup Final2011Won
2013 Champions Trophy Final2013Won
Virat Kohli2017 Champions Trophy Final2017Lost
2021 WTC Final2021Lost
Sourav Ganguly2000 Champions Trophy Final2000Lost
2002 Champions Trophy Final2002Shared with Sri Lanka
2003 World Cup Final2003Lost
Kapil Dev1983 World Cup Final1983Won
Rohit Sharma2023 WTC Final2023TBA (To Be Announced)

Summary

Even though Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been outstanding captains, MS Dhoni's accomplishments are unmatched. His ability to win key matches, his coolness under pressure, and his aptitude for encouraging his squad make him the best captain in Indian cricket history.

FAQs

Who is the No. 1 captain of India?

MS Dhoni across all formats and ICC tournaments.

Who is the best captain, Virat or Dhoni?

Dhoni edges out Kohli due to his ICC tournament victories and calm leadership style.

Who is the best T20 captain in India?

Rohit Sharma, given his IPL success and T20 leadership consistency.

Who is the best Test captain in India?

Virat Kohli, for leading India to dominance in Test cricket with 40 wins.

Who is the captain of the Indian cricket team with the highest winning percentage?

Currently, Rohit Sharma has the highest win rate of 70.89% among all Indian captains and has led the team to more than 100 games.

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