With Rohit Sharma’s claim on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title against New Zealand on March 9, at the Dubai International Stadium, the current skipper has cemented his place as one of the most successful captains of modern-day Indian cricket, alongside MS Dhoni.
Post Dhoni’s retirement from international cricket and Virat’s renunciation from the captaincy position, Rohit Sharma took the baton and carried forward the legacy of leading India to victories in the ICC and Domestic Tournaments.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) too, both Dhoni and Rohit have achieved remarkable success, each winning five titles as captains for their respective teams Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
This article reflects on the two stalwarts and their contribution in the ICC tournaments pertaining to the limited overs format – ODI World Cup and the Champions Trophy.
A captain’s role in cricket is highly important. Similar to an anchor of a ship, the leadership role commands strategy, it demands resilience, tactical competence and the ability to navigate under pressure. In ICC ODI tournaments, where stakes are high, two popular Indian skippers have perfected the art of balancing inner aggression with on field composure to deliver consistent success.
MS Dhoni’s Captaincy:
The OG Indian captain, MS Dhoni or fondly referred to as the Captain Cool, had mastered slaying ICC tournaments like no one else. He led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup triumph and then to the 2013 Champions Trophy: eventually becoming the only captain to win all ICC trophies.
His uber cool and unwavering demeanor, absolute cricket precision and gutsy choices in crucial moments of the game have garnered him immense respect from people all across the country. Dhoni’s ability to trust his team-mates and remain unfazed in crunch times had become a narrative in itself.
Thala proved his ability to peak when it mattered the most.
Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy:
Rohit as a leader in ICC ODI tournaments has been nothing short of brilliance. Taking over the reins from King Kohli during India’s transitional phase, he has led the team flawlessly until today. His leading from the front approach and mature demeanor translated into pure masterclasses, whether becoming the anomaly and choosing unconventional paths or backing young talent.
Rohit helped India clinch consecutive ICC titles for the first- time ever, after guiding them to victory in the Champions Trophy 2025. His dominating mindset while playing fearless cricket has shown results repeatedly.
He has now shattered MS Dhoni’s record for most consecutive match wins by an Indian captain in ICC events.
Rohit Sharma vs MS Dhoni in ODIs:
As far as the ICC ODI events are concerned, in the fifty-over format of the game, Rohit’s numbers are shaded by Dhoni, since the former captain has many more games to his credit. MS Dhoni was the greatest finisher of the game there ever was. He was also the king of the shorter format.
Rohit Sharma has spearheaded India in only one ODI World Cup of 2023. He took the team to the final but lost the game that mattered the most against Australia. On the other hand, MS Dhoni has led the Indian team in two ODI World Cups and finished as the champions in the 2011 one.
In case of win percentage Rohit Sharma is ahead of MS Dhoni, with 90.9% of Rohit’s as opposed to 82.35% of Dhoni’s. However, MS Dhoni having won the World Cup trophy goes ahead of Sharma since he emerged victorious.
Both have a Champions Trophy win in their kitty in common, having won in 2013 under Dhoni and now under Rohit with a 100%-win percentage.
My Perspective:
While Rohit Sharma as an ODI captain beats MS Dhoni in terms of statistical figures and win percentages owing to lesser number of matches played as a captain and relatively shorter captaincy stint since February 2022, MS Dhoni’s long-standing record and the challenges make him an equally on par one, and the skipper with most ICC trophies under his belt.
Dhoni is better than Rohit as he has been the architect for Indian cricket in the ODI format for 200 matches, with a win percentage of approx. 50%. His era of competitive cricket commanded relentless pursuit, and this certainly makes him the best ODI captain ever to grace the Indian cricket.
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