A successful captain should possess a range of key attributes, such as staying positive, being able to find solutions to problems, listening to teammates, making quick decisions, and communicating effectively. These qualities are essential for a captain to lead their team to success in cricket. Therefore, choosing a good captain is just as important as assembling a strong team.
The Indian Cricket Team Captain holds a crucial position in transforming Indian cricket, responsible for leading the team to victory and giving the fans so many moments to be proud of by defeating the enemy on their own soil. Rohit Sharma currently holds the position, but the role has been held by many notable players in the past, including MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, and Sachin Tendulkar.
Here, we’ll get an overview of the Indian Cricket Team Captain’s victories and performances while representing the nation and how they changed the course of the game.
Rohit Sharma – Current Indian Men’s Cricket Team Captain
Rohit Sharma was appointed as the captain of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team in limited-overs formats in 2017, taking over from Virat Kohli in his absence.
Since then, he has led the team to several victories, including the Asia Cup in 2018, and the Nidahas Trophy in 2018. In addition to his role as Indian Cricket Team Captain, Sharma has also led the Mumbai Indians to win five IPL titles- 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Rohit Sharma’s success as a captain and player has made him one of the most respected figures in Indian cricket. Sharma is known for his calm demeanour and tactical acumen on the field, making him an excellent Indian Cricket Team Captain.
Rohit Sharma holds numerous records, including the highest individual score in One Day Internationals (ODI) of 264 runs, which he scored against Sri Lanka in 2014.
Test Captain List – Indian Men’s Cricket Team
The Indian Men’s Test cricket team has been led by some of the most iconic names in Indian cricket history. C. K. Nayudu was the first Indian Test captain. He was followed by the likes of Maharajkumar of Vizianagram, Lala Amarnath, Vijay Hazare, and Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar who all made significant contributions to Indian cricket.
Indian Test Cricket didn’t have a great captain in their early days but the change happened when Sourav Ganguly took the position. Under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly, the Indian cricket team underwent an interesting transformation. With an assertive captain at the helm, the players began to engage in verbal confrontations with their opponents, standing their ground and matching them with equal intensity.
Captained in 2000, Sourav Ganguly has been one of the most successful test captains with 29 out of 49 test matches. His record of most overseas wins (11) was the highest as a captain at that time.
Then, the role was passed on to M.S. Dhoni in 2008. His captaincy in overseas Test matches was not very successful, with only six wins out of 30 matches. However, when it came to home matches, he led the team to great success. Overall, during his tenure as captain, India won 27 out of 60 Test matches, showcasing his impressive leadership skills.
Virat Kohli, the former Indian Cricket Team Captain in Test matches, has been leading the team since 2014 and has established himself as one of the best batsmen and the best Indian Test Captain. He captained the side for 68 matches with a win percentage of 58.88, currently, the highest percentage achieved by a player.
Virat Kohli‘s captaincy career is highlighted by his successful campaigns in the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Notably, the victory against Sri Lanka during the 2015-16 tour marked a significant achievement, considering it was India’s first win against them in 22 years.
As of March 2023, Rohit Sharma is currently the captain in all formats. He captained the side for four matches in Test cricket. India has had all in all 36 men represent the country as captains, and the list includes players who have captained at least one Test match.
| S.No | Indian Cricket Captain- Test | Years of Captaincy | Won | Lost | Win % |
| 1. | C. K. Nayudu | 1932-1934 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2. | Maharajkumar of Vizianagram | 1936 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3. | Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi | 1946 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4. | Lala Amarnath | 1947-1949, 1952-1953 | 2 | 6 | 13.33 |
| 5. | Vijay Hazare | 1951-1953 | 1 | 5 | 7.14 |
| 6. | Vinoo Mankad | 1954-1955,1958-1959 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7. | Ghulam Ahmed | 1955-1956, 1958-1959 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8. | Polly Umrigar | 1955-1959 | 2 | 2 | 25 |
| 9. | Hemu Adhikari | 1958-1959 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10. | Datta Gaekwad | 1959 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 11. | Pankaj Roy | 1959 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12. | Gulabrai Ramchand | 1959-1960 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| 13. | Nari Contractor | 1960-1962 | 2 | 2 | 16.67 |
| 14. | Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi | 1961-1975 | 9 | 19 | 22.50 |
| 15. | Chandu Borde | 1967-1968 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16. | Ajit Wadekar | 1970-1974 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
| 17. | Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan | 1974-1979 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 18. | Sunil Gavaskar | 1975-1985 | 9 | 8 | 19.14 |
| 19. | Bishan Singh Bedi | 1975-1979 | 6 | 11 | 27.27 |
| 20. | Gundappa Viswanath | 1979-1980 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21. | Kapil Dev | 1982-1987 | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| 22. | Dilip Vengsarkar | 1987-1989 | 2 | 5 | 20 |
| 23. | Ravi Shastri | 1987-1988 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
| 24. | Krishnamachari Srikkanth | 1989-1990 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25. | Mohammad Azharuddin | 1989-1999 | 14 | 14 | 30 |
| 26. | Sachin Tendulkar | 1996-2000 | 4 | 9 | 16 |
| 27. | Sourav Ganguly | 2000-2006 | 21 | 13 | 43 |
| 28. | Rahul Dravid | 2003-2007 | 8 | 6 | 32 |
| 29. | Virender Sehwag | 2005-2012 | 2 | 1 | 50 |
| 30. | Anil Kumble | 2007-2008 | 3 | 5 | 21.42 |
| 31. | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 2008-2015 | 27 | 18 | 45 |
| 32. | Virat Kohli | 2014-2022 | 40 | 17 | 58.82 |
| 33. | Ajinkya Rahane | 2017-2021 | 4 | 0 | 66.66 |
| 34. | KL Rahul | 2021-2022 | 2 | 1 | 66.67 |
| 35. | Rohit Sharma | 2022-2023 | 4 | 1 | 66.66 |
| 36. | Jasprit Bumrah | 2022 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Indian Men’s Test Matches | |
| Matches Played | 569 |
| Matches won | 175 |
| Matches lost | 172 |
| Matches drwan | 222 |
ODI Captain List
The Indian Cricket ODI Team has had several prominent captains throughout its history. We hardly witness the same captains for the country in both formats of the game. Captains in Test cricket need to have long-term planning and strategy for the match, as the game is played for five days. Whereas in ODI cricket, the captain has to make quicker decisions, and the focus is on scoring runs and taking wickets in a limited period of time.
Here is a brief overview of some of the ODI captains who have led the Indian team:
Ajit Wadekar was the first Indian cricket team captain to play in an ODI. He was followed by Mohammad Azharuddin, who was one of India’s most successful ODI captains and led the team in 174 matches between 1989 and 1999. He also led India to the 1992 World Cup final.
Sourav Ganguly made a name for himself as one of the top batsmen in the world, while also achieving great success as the captain of the Indian national cricket team. He captained India in 146 ODIs between 2000 and 2005, winning the 2002 Natwest Trophy in England and leading India to the 2003 World Cup final.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of India’s most successful captains, leading the team in 200 ODIs between 2007 and 2017. He also captained India to two World Cup victories, including the 2007 T20 World and 2011 ICC World Cup. He took one of the biggest risks by promoting himself to the top of the order ahead of an in-form player in a World Cup Final, and he made a significant contribution at a difficult time, scoring 91 off 79 balls and finishing the game in style as India won the World Cup for the second time.
As of March 2023, Rohit Sharma is the current Indian captain after Virat Kohli decided to quit captaincy in 2021. Sharma has led the team on 24 occasions, winning 19 with a win percentage of almost 80 percent.
India has had 27 players represent the country as captains in ODIs, and the list includes players who have captained at least one ODI match.
| S.No | Indian Cricket Captain- ODI | Years of Captaincy | Won | Lost | Win % |
| 1. | Ajit Wadekar | 1974 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2. | Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan | 1975-1979 | 1 | 6 | 14.28 |
| 3. | Bishen Singh Bedi | 1975-1978 | 1 | 3 | 25 |
| 4. | Sunil Gavaskar | 1980-1985 | 14 | 21 | 21 |
| 5. | Gundappa Viswanath | 1980 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6. | Kapil Dev | 1982-1992 | 39 | 33 | 54.16 |
| 7. | Syed Kirmani | 1983 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8. | Mohinder Amarnath | 1984 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9. | Ravi Shastri | 1986-1991 | 4 | 7 | 36.36 |
| 10. | Dilip Vengsarkar | 1987-1988 | 8 | 10 | 44.44 |
| 11. | Krishnamachari Srikkanth | 1989 | 4 | 8 | 33.33 |
| 12. | Mohammad Azharuddin | 1989-1999 | 90 | 76 | 54.17 |
| 13. | Sachin Tendulkar | 1996-1999 | 23 | 43 | 35 |
| 14. | Ajay Jadeja | 1998-1999 | 8 | 5 | 61.53 |
| 15. | Sourav Ganguly | 1999-2005 | 76 | 65 | 53.9 |
| 16. | Rahul Dravid | 2000-2007 | 42 | 33 | 56 |
| 17. | Anil Kumble | 2001 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
| 18. | Virendra Sehwag | 2003-2011 | 7 | 5 | 58.33 |
| 19. | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 2007-2018 | 110 | 74 | 59.52 |
| 20. | Suresh Raina | 2010 | 6 | 5 | 54.54 |
| 21. | Gautam Gambhir | 2010-2011 | 6 | 0 | 100 |
| 22. | Virat Kohli | 2013-2021 | 65 | 27 | 70 |
| 23. | Ajinkya Rahane | 2015 | 3 | 0 | 100 |
| 24. | Rohit Sharma | 2017-present | 19 | 5 | 79.16 |
| 25. | Shikhar Dhawan | 2021-2022 | 7 | 3 | 58.33 |
| 26. | KL Rahul | 2022 | 4 | 3 | 57.14 |
| 27. | Hardik Pandya | 2023 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
| Indian Men’s ODI Matches | |
| Matches Played | 1027 |
| Matches won | 539 |
| Matches lost | 436 |
| Matches drwan | 9 |
Indian Men’s Cricket Team T20 Captain List
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s excellent leadership skills were instrumental in India’s victory at the first T20I World Cup in 2007. This historic triumph paved the way for the creation of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which transformed the landscape of T20 cricket on a global scale.
The Indian Cricket Team has also had some successful Twenty20 International (T20I) captains. Virender Sehwag was India’s first T20 captain. However, he captained India in just one T20I match against Australia in 2007.
In the same year, Dhoni was named the captain in the inaugural edition of ICC World T20 in South Africa. Under his leadership, the Men in Blue clinched their 1st ever World T20 title by defeating their arch rivals, Pakistan in a spectacular final.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been one of India’s most successful captains in all formats of the game. Holding the record of captaining in most matches, Dhoni led the team in a total of 72 T20I matches between 2007 and 2016, winning the T20 World Cup in 2007.
Rohit Sharma took the reins in 2013 as the current Indian T20 captain and since then, has led the team in 51 T20I matches and has won 39 of them holding an impressive 76.47 win percentage. Rohit Sharma holds the highest win percentage among all international T20I captains who have led their team in at least 25 matches. The Indian skipper also scored 1305 runs in 40 matches and broke Virat Kohli’s record for most runs in T20I as captain.
All in all, India has been captained by a total of 10 players in Twenty20 internationals, and the list below includes players who have captained at least one match.
| S.No | Indian Cricket Captain- Test | Years of Captaincy | Won | Lost | Win % |
| 1. | Virendra Sehwag | 2006 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
| 2. | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 2007-2016 | 41 | 28 | 58 |
| 3. | Suresh Raina | 2010-2011 | 3 | 0 | 100 |
| 4. | Ajinkya Rahane | 2015 | 1 | 1 | 50 |
| 5. | Virat Kohli | 2017-2021 | 30 | 16 | 60 |
| 6. | Rohit Sharma | 2017- present | 39 | 12 | 76.47 |
| 7. | Shikhar Dhawan | 2021 | 1 | 2 | 33.33 |
| 8. | Risabh Pant | 2022 | 2 | 2 | 50 |
| 9. | Hardik Pandya | 2022-2023 | 8 | 2 | 77.27 |
| 10. | KL Rahul | 2022- present | 1 | 0 | 100 |
| Indian Men’s T20 Matches | |
| Matches Played | 196 |
| Matches won | 125 |
| Matches lost | 62 |
| Matches drwan | 1 |
The Indian Cricket Team Captain has a rich history of success in all formats of the game. From the legendary Kapil Dev to the current captain, Rohit Sharma, these Indian Cricket Team captains have led their team to many victories and milestones. The list includes some of the most successful and iconic names in Indian cricket, such as MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sunil Gavaskar.
In addition to their achievements in international cricket, many of these captains have also led their teams to victories in the Indian Premier League. Overall, the Indian Cricket Team has been fortunate to have some exceptional leaders at the helm who have helped shape the team’s legacy.
FAQs
Who is the captain of the Indian Cricket Team in 2023?
- Rohit Sharma is currently the captain of the Indian Cricket Team in all formats after Virat Kohli decided to quit captaincy from all forms of International Cricket in 2021. Rohit Sharma has an impressive captaincy record, having led the Indian cricket team to numerous victories in both ODI and T20I formats. He has won the most IPL titles as captain of the Mumbai Indians team. Under his captaincy, India won Asia Cup 2018 and Nidhas Trophy.
Who is the Captain of the First Indian Cricket Team?
- C. K. Nayudu was the first Indian Cricket Team Captain. He captained the side for 2 years. Nayudu won 0 matches and lost 2 games during his 2 years career as a captain of the Indian Cricket Team. He played a total of only 7 matches.
Who is the most successful Captain of Team India?
- MS Dhoni is one of the most successful cricket captains of all time. He captained India in 332 matches across all formats, winning 178 of them. Dhoni is the only captain to win all three major ICC tournaments: the World Cup, the World Twenty20, and the Champions Trophy. Under his leadership, India won 2 Asia Cups as well in 2010 and 2016.
Who decides the Indian Cricket Team and on what bases?
- The selection of a captain for the Indian Men’s Cricket Team is a decision made by the BCCI selection committee, consisting of former cricketers and experts. The decision is based on various factors such as the player’s performance at the domestic level, leadership qualities, and ability to motivate and lead the team effectively. The committee evaluates the players’ skills and potential to lead the team before making the final decision on who will be the captain of the team.
Who is the vice-captain of the Indian Cricket Team in 2023?
- After Virat Kohli announced his resignation from the captaincy in all formats of international cricket. Hardik Pandya will be the next vice-captain of the Indian Cricket Team as decided by the BCCI. Rohit Sharma will lead the Indian Men’s Cricket team in 2023.
