A team always requires a captain when it is in a difficult situation. A captain uses different strategies and techniques to help his team in difficult situations. We have seen many captains in cricket with a good record in leading their sides, such as Ricky Ponting, MS Dhoni, Clive Lloyd, Graeme Smith, Stephen Fleming, and Steve Waugh. In IPL, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is on the top of leading his team in most matches. The list of top ten captains in the Indian Premier League history is below.
1. Rohit Sharma
The right-handed opening batter is the most successful skipper in the IPL history. Under his captaincy, Mumbai Indians won the IPL title for the record five times- 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Rohit has a winning percentage of 59 in the IPL and has led his team in 129 IPL matches with 75 wins, 50 losses, and four tied results.
2. MS Dhoni
Dhoni has captained his side in most matches in the IPL history. Captain cool has led Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant in the past. Under his captaincy, Chennai Super Kings reached playoffs every season, barring 2020. CSK won the IPL title under Dhoni in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021. Mahi has a winning percentage of 59 and captained his team in 204 IPL matches with 121 wins, 82 losses, and one no result.
3. Gautam Gambhir
The World Cup-winning cricketer captained Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils (Delhi Capitals now) in his IPL career. KKR won two IPL titles under his captaincy in 2012 and 2014. Gambhir has a winning percentage of 55 and captained his team in 129 IPL matches, winning 71 and losing 57 with one tied result.
4. David Warner
Sunrisers Hyderabad won the IPL title when David Warner was its skipper. Warner led his team from the front and beat RCB by eight runs in the 2016 IPL final. He also captained Delhi Daredevils before leading the Hyderabad franchise. Warner has a winning percentage of 52 and played 69 IPL matches as a captain, winning 35 and losing 32 with two tied results.
5. Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist was one of the best minds behind the stumps, and he also showed it in the IPL. Deccan Chargers, under his captaincy, beat Royal Challengers Bangalore to win the IPL title for the first time in 2009. Gilchrist captained Kings XI Punjab from 2011 to 2013 and retired from IPL after playing his final game for Punjab. Gilly has a winning percentage of 47 with the experience of leading his side in 74 IPL matches, winning 35 and losing 39.
6. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is one of the best batters in today’s generation. He also led his national team but did not win any major trophy as a captain. Kohli led RCB to the IPL Final in 2016 and playoffs in the subsequent editions of IPL but could not capture an IPL title. VK has a winning percentage of 48 and captained his side in 140 IPL matches, winning 64 and losing 69 with three tied and four no results.
7. Shane Warne
Shane Warne was the skipper of Rajasthan Royals when they became the first-ever IPL champions in 2008. He led the side until 2011 with a winning percentage of 55. Warne captained his team in 55 IPL matches and won 30 of those and lost 24 with one tied result.
8. Sachin Tendulkar
The master blaster is the best batter India produced in their cricket history. Tendulkar was the captain of Mumbai Indians for the first four years and led his team to the final in 2010, which they lost to Chennai Super Kings. He has a winning percentage of 58 and the experience of leading Mumbai in 51 IPL matches, winning 30 and losing 21.
9. Steve Smith
Steve Smith captained Rising Pune Supergiant, Rajasthan Royals, and Pune Warriors India in his IPL career. His most successful reign as an IPL captain came in 2017 when he led Rising Pune Supergiant to the playoffs. His side lost the final to Mumbai Indians by one run, but his captaincy shined throughout the tournament. Smith has a winning percentage of 59 and captained his team in 43 IPL matches, winning 25 and losing 17 with one no result.
10. Rahul Dravid
The Wall was the skipper of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008. He also captained Rajasthan Royals after his tenure in RCB got over. Dravid has a winning percentage of 45 and led his side in 48 IPL matches, with 22 wins and 26 losses in his resume.
