Cricket has always been considered a game between batters and bowlers. But sometimes, we forget that this is a team game where every player plays a vital role. The captain is the backbone of every team, as he is responsible for all the field settings and making the most critical decisions. We have seen many great captains who have redefined the meaning of leadership. But some great captains never won the World Cup.
1. Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith is a former right-handed batsman and skipper of South Africa. He is undoubtedly the best captain South African Cricket has ever produced. Graeme Smith is the most successful captain in test cricket history as he won 53 test matches as a captain, which is the most for any captain in the World. Despite having World Class Captaincy tactics, Graeme Smith could never win the World Cup for South Africa. He captained South Africa in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup editions. Graeme Smith won 53 tests and 92 ODIs for South Africa in his captaincy career.
2. Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly, also known as “Dada,” is one of the most fearless cricketers that India has ever produced. After the match-fixing scandal, he was the one who captained the team and made an aggressive team with a combination of experienced and young players. Sourav Ganguly was the captain of India between 2000 and 2005, and under his captaincy, India started defeating big teams like Australia. Even though India reached the finals of the 2003 World Cup under his captaincy, he could not win it. In his career, Sourav Ganguly led India in 196 matches, where he won 97 games and lost 79 with a winning percentage of 49.48.
3. Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming has been one of the best cricketing brains that New Zealand cricket has ever produced. Undoubtedly, he is one of the best skippers in New Zealand’s cricket history. Stephen Fleming has captained New Zealand in the three World Cups, where his team also reached the knockouts but failed to win the World Cup. Stephen Fleming is the third most successful captain in ODI cricket history with 98 wins in 218 ODIs, and he has also won 28 tests as a captain. As a captain, Stephen Fleming has a win percentage of 39.95.
4. Nasser Hussain
Nasser Hussain is a former right-handed batsman and captain of England. As a captain, he represented England from 1999 to 2004, where Nasser Hussain captained 101 International matches, including 45 tests and 56 ODIs. In the 2003 World Cup, he ran England’s team, and their team did not even qualify for knockouts. Apart from this, as a captain, Nasser Hussain won 17 tests and 28 ODIs with a win percentage of 43.89. Despite having good captaincy records, Nasser Hussain could win the World Cup for England.
5. Brian Lara
Brian Lara is one of the best and most talented batsmen that West Indies has ever produced. After Viv Richards, he took the batting legacy of West Indies further. West Indie’s 2007 World Cup team is a true example that a team cannot win because of one player. Brian Lara captained the West Indies in the 2007 World Cup, but his team did not qualify for the knockouts. Therefore, Brian Lara could never win the World Cup. Under his captaincy, West Indies played 47 tests and 125 ODIs.
6. AB de Villiers
As a player, Ab de Villiers has appeared in three World Cup tournaments, but every time, luck did not favor South Africa. In 2015, South Africa was the strongest and one of the favorites to win the World Cup. AB de Villiers was the captain in the 2015 World Cup, and they are performing very well. But in the semi-finals, the rain came, and South Africa choked again. They lost a thriller match against New Zealand, and AB de Villiers cried in the stadium. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most heartbreaking moments in the cricket history. As a captain, de Villiers has a win percentage of 60.10 with 59 wins in the ODIs.
7. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis is one of the greatest fats-bowlers in cricket history. During the early 90s, Waqar Younis sued to be one of the prominent fast bowlers in the World. When Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup, he missed out on that World Cup due to an injury. But when Waqar Younis captained the Pakistani team in the 2003 World Cup, they only won two matches, and 2003 was a disappointing World Cup for his team. Undoubtedly, Waqar Younis will be the legend of the game, but he could never win the World Cup for his team.
8. Daniel Vettori
After Stephen Fleming, New Zealand appointed Daniel Vettori as its captain. Daniel Vettori is a former and one of the best spinners in the history of New Zealand cricket. He captained New Zealand in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup, where New Zealand reached the semi-finals. Despite being a good team, Daniel Vettori never won the World Cup for New Zealand. Under his captaincy, he captained New Zealand for 32 test matches and 82 ODIs.
9. Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohammad Azharuddin is one of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history, as he captained India for almost ten years. Under his captaincy, India played 47 test matches and 174 ODIs. Mohammad Azharuddin is the only skipper who has run India in three World Cups. He could win the World Cup despite having good team and captaincy skills. As a captain, Mohammad Azharuddin won 14 test matches and 90 ODIs.
10. Martin Crowe
Martin Crowe was one of the most elegant and technically sound batsmen that New Zealand has ever produced. In 1990, he became the captain of New Zealand’s team and captained New Zealand in the 1992 World Cup, where New Zealand looked like the favorites to win. Unfortunately, they lost the semi-final match against Pakistan, and Martin Crowe never won the World Cup. In the year 1996, Martin Crowe announced his retirement from international cricket.
