The next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is less than two weeks away from getting underway. It is the 17th season of the arguably the best sports league in the world and top players from major cricketing nations will participate in the competition.
Captains do play an important part and the ones with sharp mind and acumen have ended up winning the tournament ever since its inception back in 2008. Let us now have a look at top four captains in history of the league.
1. MS Dhoni (CSK)
MS Dhoni has to be the best captain not only in the IPL but also in the world as he has almost achieved everything in the sport. The man has won the cash-rich league five times with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and will be taking the field in the upcoming edition as the defending champion. Dhoni’s record as captain in IPL having led teams (CSK and RPS) in a massive 226 matches so far.
He has won 133 matches while being at the helm and suffered losses on 91 occasions. A win percentage of 58.84 is certainly brilliant despite leading over the last 16 years. Only once he played as a player and it was in 2017 when RPS appointed Steve Smith as captain. Dhoni had also handed over the reins in 2022 but the team couldn’t perform under a new captain and the man had to return to the helm again.
2. Rohit Sharma (MI)
Like Dhoni, Rohit didn’t get the captaincy right from the inaugural season of IPL. He played for Deccan Chargers first and then went to Mumbai Indians where he was handed over captaincy midway through the 2013 edition. From there on, the man left everyone in awe with his captaincy skills winning five titles – in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. One can argue that the Mumbai Indians team was so strong but it takes a lot to even lead such players at such a highest level.
As far as Rohit Sharma’s record as captain in IPL is concerned, he has led 158 matches and won 87 of them while losing 67 games. Four matches ended in a tie under him that were resulted in super over. A win percentage of 55.06 is more than a decent record and more than that, winning five titles in such a competitive tournament is not a joke at all which makes him one of the best captains ever in the T20 league.
3. Virat Kohli (RCB)
Even Kohli the captain faced a lot of challenges and didn’t deter at all. The fact that Virat Kohli didn’t win a single IPL trophy doesn’t make him a lesser captain. The man single-handedly took his side to the final from a precarious position in 2016 smashing 973 runs in the edition. Under him RCB have regularly made it to playoffs but couldn’t go the distance. When it comes to RCB in playoffs, it is difficult to find out who will win the match today as they tend to underperform in crunch situations.
Coming to Kohli’s record as captain in the cash-rich league, he led Royal Challengers Bangalore in 143 matches and ended up winning 66 of them. He lost 70 matches while three games resulted in super over after they ended in a tie in the regular 40 overs. A win percentage of 46.15 might seem less compared to Dhoni and Rohit but his aggression and the way lead from the front was special right through his captaincy tenure.
4. Shane Warne
Shane Warne is best remembered for delivering the ball of the century during his Test career. But the man is the first ever captain to win the IPL back in 2008 when he led a young side – Rajasthan Royals – to glory. For the same reason, he has been included in the list of top captains in the league’s history.
Warne’s leadership in 2008 IPL was the best example how a captain should be. With a bunch of young underrated players, the Aussie legend lifted the trophy sensationally when not many had given them a chance. As far as his IPL captaincy record is concerned, Warne won 30 and lost 24 while one match ended in a tie during his captaincy tenure.
Summary
All the aforementioned were/have been simply sensational and not only with bat or ball but they did make an impact with their leadership skills. Dhoni is still doing it despite not having the same prowess as a batter. He led CSK to their fifth title last year and is again taking the field against RCB in the season opener according to the IPL 2024 schedule in search of a sixth trophy.
Unfortunately, Warne is no longer with us, but Kohli and Rohit are no longer leading their teams. However, their impact as leaders will last forever, and their contribution to their franchise will always be remembered, even as they take the field in the upcoming season.
