The T20 international format is a 20-over format played with a white ball. The captains have always played a huge role in winning the matches since the game was first played in the shortest format. The skipper in a team is looked upon as someone with power and trust. The way of leading the side makes a huge impact on the team’s performance. In marquee tournaments like the World Cup, the skipper’s role becomes even more important because of the pressure. The first-ever T20I WC was played in 2007 and the latest T20I WC took place in 2022. In this article, we have written about the top 10 captains with the most wins in T20I World Cups.
1. MS Dhoni
Ms Dhoni was a former wicketkeeper batter and the most successful white-ball skipper for India. He led his team to three ICC trophies from 2007 to 2013 including a T20I WC in 2007. Dhoni became the first-ever skipper to lift a T20I WC trophy after defeating the arch-rivals Pakistan in the finals. Widely regarded as the best Indian skipper, the right-handed middle-order batter was also a top-class batting prodigy down the order who could hit sixes with ease. The game was never gone until MS was out there in the middle for India. He led India in five T20I WCs and played 33 matches as captain. He won 21 matches as captain with a win percentage of 63.64.
2. Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson is one of the best batters in the world right now. His ability to stay calm under pressure and perform at his best is next to none. The captain of New Zealand in all the formats made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2011. He is considered among the fab four batters alongside Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, and Joe Root. Williamson as a leader has prospered immensely after the baton was passed on to him from Daniel Vettori. The right-handed top-order batter has led his team in two T20I World Cups in 2021 and 2022. In 17 matches as captain, he has won 12 with a win percentage of 70.59.
3. Daren Sammy
Darren Sammy was a former all-rounder and the captain of the West Indies. A right-arm medium bowler and a right-handed middle-order batsman who could strike the ball a fair distance with ease, Sammy made his T20I debut against England in 2007. His ability to read the game and contribute to the best of his abilities made him a regular inclusion in the squad. In 2012 and 2016, Sammy led his teams to WC wins in the shortest formats. He is the only skipper to have two T20I WC titles. The mastermind led his team in 18 T20I WC matches and won 12 out of them. His win percentage was 66.67 and retired from the format in 2017.
4. Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith was a former left-handed opening batter and the captain for South Africa. Born in 1981, the player made his TT20I debut against New Zealand in 2005. He was one of the best left-handed batters of his time. Although he could not win a trophy for South Africa, he is regarded among the best skippers in the nation. He won 11 games out of 16 as captain in T20I WC with a win percentage of 68.75.
5. Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara was the most important batter in the Sri Lankan team in his era. Counted among the best top-order batters in the world, Sangakkara was a different entity when he batted in full flow. His elegance while playing was next to none and so was his hunger to perform while batting. He was also a former captain of his nation and was considered among the best wicket-keepers in the world of cricket. He led the team to WC glory in the shortest format in 2014 after beating India in the finals of the tournament. He led the team in the T20I WCs in 14 matches and won 10 out of those with a win percentage of 71.43.
6. Babar Azam
Babar Azam is currently the captain of Pakistan across formats. He has become one of the best batters for Pakistan since his debut in the shortest format in 2016 against England. He is currently the number one ranked batter in the ICC ODI rankings. He also became the first Pakistan skipper to defeat India in a WC match which happened in 2021 in Dubai. The right-handed top-order batter has led Pakistan in 13 T20 WC matches and won 9 out of those with a win percentage of 69.23.
7. Aaron Finch
Aaron Finch was a former right-handed opening batter for Australia. After his debut against England in 2011, Finch became a regular part of the team. He was one of the best skippers in Australia as he became the first skipper to lead Australia to glory in a T20I WC in 2021. He played 10 matches and won 8 as a skipper in the T20I WCs.
8. Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan was a former skipper for England in the limited overs formats. He became the first English skipper to win a WC trophy in 2019 after defeating New Zealand by the barest of margins. Morgan was a left-handed middle-order batter and holds the record of hitting the most sixes in an ODI innings (17) against Afghanistan in 2019 ODI WC. He led his nation in 12 T20 WC matches and won 8 out of them with a win percentage of 66.67.
9. Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene was a former right-handed top-order batter and the skipper for Sri Lanka across formats. He made his T20I debut against England in 2006 after establishing himself in the other two formats. He led Sri Lanka in 11 games in the T20 WC and won 7 of them with a win percentage of 63.64.
10. Michael Clarke
The right-handed top-order batter led his team to ODI WC glory in 2015 after defeating New Zealand in the final. He was also a handy left-arm orthodox bowler and a skipper across formats for Australia. He led his team in 7 games in the T20I WC and won 6 out of those with a win percentage of 85.71.
