Most Successful Captains In IPL
In the game of cricket, the captain has a crucial role to play in his team’s success, a role that comes into play way before the first ball is bowled. Right from making the right call at the toss to setting the field, motivating his players, and setting the right example for his teammates to follow, a captain always has a large amount of influence on how a game might go. His role is amplified manifold in the shortest form of the game, Twenty20, as it involves a number of key decisions that have to be made in a flash.
Over the years in the IPL, we have seen a variety of captains take the field – young ones, experienced ones, all-action ones, thinking ones, those that lead from the front, and those who get the best out of others. Even with the added pressure of managing players from all over the world as well as millions watching their every move, there have been a select few that have succeeded in bringing glory to their respective IPL franchises. And while winning percentages can be subjective in nature, one metric by which a captain’s performance can be measured is the number of titles they have won. After all, at the end of the day, that’s what we all remember, isn’t it?
List of Most Successful Captains In IPL
So, here’s a list of the Captain with highest winning percentage in IPL history, players who have not only lifted their own game but also that of the team as a whole, and have reaped the rewards of their efforts.
4. Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, David Warner (1 title each)
As a cricketing nation, Australia is famed for its ruthless aggression on the pitch and elite winning mentality, an approach which has seen it win multiple World Cups. The IPL’s imports from Down Under have imbued their respective franchises with the same characteristics, which is why it’s no surprise that no less than three Australians have led their teams to the title.
The first to do it was Shane Warne back in 2008 as he led the Rajasthan Royals to glory in what is probably the tournament’s biggest underdog story. His feat was replicated by his national teammate of many years, Adam Gilchrist, the very next year, as his unfancied Deccan Chargers became champions in South Africa. The third and most recent entrant on this list of the most successful captains in IPL history is David Warner, who captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to victory in the 2016 edition of the tournament.
Read More: Most Wins as Captain in IPL
3. Gautam Gambhir (2 titles)
Although he did turn out for his local team Delhi Daredevils as well, it’s his exploits as skipper of the Kolkata Knight Riders that place Gautam Gambhir on this list of Captain with highest winning percentage in IPL history. A dependable opening batsman and an astute leader, Gautam Gambhir first led SRK’s team to victory in 2012, stopping Chennai from completing a hat-trick of titles. He then repeated the feat two years later, successfully proving that his title win of 2012 was no fluke and also cementing his own place as one of the best performers of all time in the IPL.
Read More: Most Man of the Match Awards In IPL
2. MS Dhoni (3 titles)
It’s impossible to talk about the most successful captains in IPL history and not mention Captain Cool himself, MS Dhoni. One of India’s most successful captains, Dhoni has proved himself to be an excellent leader in the shortest form of the game as well, with no less than three title wins and five other appearances in the final to boot. While he also led the Rising Pune Supergiants during their IPL stint, it’s his performances for Chennai Super Kings that we’re talking about here – consecutive titles in the 2010 and 2011 season were followed by a third success in 2018, immediately after the Super Kings were reformed post-suspension.
Read More: Most Matches as Captain in IPL
1. Rohit Sharma (4 titles)
And finally, we reach the summit of our list of the most successful captains in IPL history, and it’s a name not many would have expected to find here when the tournament first began. Rohit Sharma has undergone a remarkable personal transformation since the inaugural edition in 2008, going from a stylish middle-order batsman and part-time off-spinner to one of the most destructive opening batsmen in world cricket as well as an aggressive captain.
His first title success came in 2013, and although the Mumbai Indians have made a habit of starting the tournament slowly, they have still managed to lift the trophy every alternate year under Rohit, and are the defending champions going into 2020.
Read More: Most Expensive Picks in IPL
