The captaincy role in the high-stakes IPL tournament is critical, as the outcome of a match can shift rapidly. However, leading a team in such a grand competition is no easy feat. A captain’s performance is under constant scrutiny and underperforming captains are often quickly replaced by their franchises.
Yet, some cricketers have managed to maintain their captaincy positions through consistent results. This article will highlight the top 5 most successful IPL captains, who have captained several matches in the league’s history.
Most Successful Captain in IPL
If we consider only IPL title victories, then Mumbai Indians’ captain Rohit Sharma is the most successful captain in the IPL, having won a total of five titles. A list of winning titles is given below.
| Name | No. of Titles | Team | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 5 | Mumbai Indians | 2013,2015,2017,2019,2020 |
| Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 4 | Chennai Super Kings | 2010,2011,2018, 2021 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2012,2014 |
| Shane Warne | 1 | Rajasthan Royals | 2008 |
| Adam Gilchrist | 1 | Deccan Chargers | 2009 |
| David Warner | 1 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2016 |
| Hardik Pandya | 1 | Gujarat Titans | 2022 |
Captain With Highest Winning Percentage in IPL History
Our analysis revealed the top-5 most successful captain in IPL history, based on the number of wins they have led their teams to achieve. Interestingly, four of the captains on the list are Indian, with only one foreign skipper making the cut.
| Captain | Matches | Won | Loss | No Result / Tie | Win % | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 210 | 123 | 86 | 0/1 | 58.57% | 4 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 129 | 71 | 57 | 1/0 | 55.42% | 2 |
| Rohit Sharma | 143 | 79 | 60 | 4/0 | 55.24% | 5 |
| Virat Kohli | 140 | 64 | 69 | 3/4 | 48.16% | 0 |
| Adam Gilchrist | 74 | 35 | 39 | 0/0 | 47.29% | 1 |
IPL Winning Captains List
Here’s the complete list of winning captains in IPL history from the inaugural season of 2008 to 2022.
| Year | Winners | Captain of the Winning Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Gujrat Titans | Hardik Pandya |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | Mahendra Singh Dhoni |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | Mahendra Singh Dhoni |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | David Warner |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gautam Gambhir |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Gautam Gambhir |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | Mahendra Singh Dhoni |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | Mahendra Singh Dhoni |
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | Adam Gilchrist |
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Shane Warne |
Who is The Worst Captain in IPL?
In T20 cricket, the role of the captain is extremely vital. A well-executed change in bowling strategy, a small adjustment to the field positioning, or a captain’s ability to manage their team can greatly impact the outcome of the game. This importance of leadership is amplified in high-pressure competitions such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), where teams play non-stop for an extended period of nearly two months.
Although the IPL has seen several successful captains over the years, not all have achieved success. Some players who have had triumphant captaincy careers on the international stage, unfortunately, make the list of the worst IPL leaders. The selection for this list was limited to only those captains who had participated in a minimum of 25 games. The captains with the lowest win rate were selected based on these criteria.
Here’s the List of Worst Captains in IPL History
| Name | Teams | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumar Sangakkara | Kings XI Punjab Deccan Chargers Sunrisers Hyderabad | 47 | 15 | 30 | 2 | 34.04 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Kings XI Punjab Kochi Tuskers Kerala Delhi Daredevils | 30 | 10 | 19 | 1 | 35.00 |
| Sourav Ganguly | Kolkata Knight Riders Pune Warriors | 42 | 17 | 25 | 0 | 40.47 |
| Rahul Dravid | Royal Challengers Bangalore Rajasthan Royals | 48 | 22 | 26 | 45.83 | |
| George Bailey | Kings XI Punjab | 30 | 14 | 16 | 0 | 46.66 |
Kumar Sangakkara
As the captain of 47 games, Kumar Sangakkara only managed to secure 15 victories while losing 30. With a win percentage of 34.04, he holds the dubious distinction of having the lowest win record among captains who have led a team in at least 25 games.
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene led his team in 30 matches, but only managed to secure 10 victories and suffered 19 losses. With a win percentage of 35.00, he ranks as the second lowest among all captains who have played 25 or more games in the role of team leader.
Sourav Ganguly
With Sourav Ganguly as captain, the team played 42 games, resulting in 17 victories and 25 losses. His win percentage of 40.47 is ranked third lowest among captains who have led their team in at least 25 games.
Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid served as the captain in 48 matches, with a record of 22 wins and 26 losses. His win percentage stands at 45.83, ranking fourth among captains who have played a minimum of 25 games as the leader of their team.
George Bailey
As captain, George Bailey took the helm for 30 games, but unfortunately, his success rate was limited with only 14 wins and 16 losses. Despite this, his win percentage of 46.66% placed him among the top five captains with 25 or more games under their belt as the leader of their team.
Rohit vs Virat Captaincy Record in IPL
Here’s the comparison of Rohit Sharma VS Virat Kohli IPL captaincy.
| Stat | Rohit Sharma | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Match | 143 | 140 |
| Wins | 79 | 64 |
| Losses | 60 | 69 |
| Tied | 4 | 3 |
| No Results | 0 | 4 |
| Win % | 55.24% | 48.16% |
Most Toss-Winning Captain in IPL 2022
Here’s the complete list of the most toss-winning captains in IPL 2022.
| Captain | IPL Team | Count | Won | Lost | Winning % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | Delhi Capitals | 13 | 8 | 5 | 66% |
| Kane Williamson | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 13 | 8 | 5 | 66% |
| Hardik Pandya | Gujarat Titans | 12 | 7 | 5 | 57% |
| Shreyas Iyer | Kolkata Knight Riders | 12 | 7 | 5 | 57% |
| Faf Du Plessis | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 13 | 8 | 5 | 66% |
| Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | 12 | 8 | 5 | 66% |
| KL Rahul | Lucknow Super Giants | 12 | 5 | 7 | 41% |
| Ravindra Jadeja MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 13 | 5 | 8 | 38% |
| Mayank Agarwal | Punjab Kings | 13 | 4 | 9 | 30% |
| Sanju Samson | Rajasthan Royals | 12 | 2 | 10 | 17% |
Most Runs as a Captain in IPL History
Now we examine the top five batsmen with the highest number of runs as a captain in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
| Name | Teams | Runs | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 4810 | 133 |
| MS Dhoni | CSK, RPS | 4475 | 196 |
| Gautam Gambhir | KKR, DD | 3518 | 129 |
| Rohit Sharma | MI | 3251 | 123 |
| David Warner | SRH | 2931 | 71 |
