Leadership is important in every walk of life, and it is no different in the game of cricket. The captain is a central figure of the team consisting of 11 players. He is responsible for making all tough decisions for the team, be it in the batting or bowling department. The captaincy skills are usually at the forefront in a competitive T20 tournament like the Indian Premier League.
Since the last decade, there has been a rise in innovation in the shortest format. The batters as well as bowlers have been working hard to hone their skills with the help of the best coaching staff in the world. More importantly, they rub shoulders with the finest T20 talent, which helps them to grow as the season progresses.
In the same way as a player improves his craft, the captains also have a huge learning path in order to attain success for his respective team. The key differential between captains is their belief and experience, which helps them to go all the way in terms of success. To achieve something big, the captain needs a belief in his decisions, and he gets those different experiences by taking tough decisions in crunch moments.
On that note, let’s take a look at top captains in the IPL history and their qualities.
Table of Contents
Qualities of a Successful IPL Captain
1. Backing players. As they say, cricket is a cruel game, and the T20 format can be more demotivating for anyone on the field, be it experienced or inexperienced players. The finest of the players can have bad days on the field, and it needs the support from his captain to come out of that phase and perform for the team in the coming matches.
With the hectic schedule of IPL, players usually don’t get enough time to reflect on their past performances, but the captain can infuse confidence in the players, which can hold them in good stead ahead of the matches.
2. Belief. The belief of a captain is necessary in crunch moments of the game. He needs to be going in with his gut feeling in terms of his decision to bring in a certain bowler at that crucial point, while having a clear mind in the batting order of the team. The more the captain believes in his decisions, the more it will be good for him and the team in a long tournament like the IPL. As the experiences grow, he would be able to make the right decisions on more occasions.
3. Adaptability. In a T20 format, it’s very hard for everything to go according to the captain’s plan. This format demands adaptability from the players and team’s leader. With huge increase in the shot-making ability of batters and variation of the bowlers, the game can change in a matter of a few overs. This gives rise to the captain’s tactical thinking, and how he can adapt to the present situation and keep the team in the hunt and eventually winning the game by right decisions.
4. Learning from setbacks. A setback is very critical in life for any individual. It is also important for the captain to receive setbacks, which would keep him grounded in times of success and failures alike. For example, if the team goes on a five-match winning streak, but loses their next few games by big margins, the introspection on their weakness and strength help them become better in their craft.
The setbacks in the tournament are necessary for any captain to gauge their key quality in crunch moments. With equal amounts of setbacks and success, a leader knows his strengths and weaknesses in crucial situations and can pave the way for the team to secure success.
5. Calmness. In a T20 format, a captain can at any point of the game be fuming at his players for their lackluster performance. In some times, he would be crediting his players for their fine performances, as well. But, the leader needs to be calm during every situation of the game, which is what the T20 format demands. With a calm and composed attitude, he can be making right decisions, which might help the team’s eventual result in the game/ tournament. A captain’s attitude also is a key factor in the team’s overall mood and confidence as well, which is a big thing for a tournament like the IPL.
Top Contenders for the Best Captain in IPL History
Rohit Sharma
The young batter emerged as a fearless talent in the 2007 T20 World Cup, and became a permanent member of the T20I team. He was then picked up by Deccan Chargers and impressed in his three-year stint with the team. Rohit picked up a hat-trick and was a key contributor with the bat, as Chargers lifted the title in 2009.
The consistent performances and leadership qualities earned him to be promoted to the leader’s role with Mumbai Indians mid-way through the 2013 season. Straightaway, MI showed signs of brilliance as they won 11 out of 16 league games. Then, they went on to lift their maiden title after beating Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs.
In the 2015 season finale, MI dominated the proceedings by posting 202 on the board, with Rohit Sharma hitting a fifty. Then, the bowlers did well to secure a big victory by 41 runs for the franchise. Their next title victories in 2017 and 2019 were inspirational, and it certainly improved the stock of Rohit Sharma as a captain.
In the 2017 final against Rising Pune Supergiant, although Mumbai could post only 129, Rohit was impactful with his bowling changes to secure a one-run victory. The 2019 season final saw them posting 149 against CSK. Then, Rohit played a masterstroke to keep Lasith Malinga for the last over, as the Sri Lankan pacer calmed his nerves to secure fourth IPL title victory for the franchise.
In the 2020 edition, MI became the second team in the IPLhistory to defend their IPL title. They topped the points table with nine wins in 14 league matches. They faced Delhi Capitals in the final, and restricted them to 156. Thereafter, the skipper Rohit Sharma returned with an impressive knock of 68 off 51 balls to become the champion for the fifth time in the cash-rich league.
Certainly, Rohit Sharma has turned out to be a miraculous leader for the Mumbai Indians and he deserves to be called on of the best IPL captain. It is due to him and the entire players and support staff, that MI has created their legacy and helped the league to prosper.
MS Dhoni
Yet another contender to be called the world best captain in IPL is MS Dhoni. In his first-ever stint as a captain in the ICC trophy, Dhoni led the Indian team to a title victory in the 2007 World Cup. His staunch decision-making and belief in his players helped him to become a prominent figure in Indian cricket. He was then picked by the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the IPL 2008. He continued his brilliance to see the team qualify for the final, but they fell short by a whisker.
It was the 2010 season, which saw CSK facing Mumbai Indians for the first time in a final. They posted 168 and restricted Mumbai to win by 22 runs. Retaining their most core players, CSK defended their IPL title by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs. In the next four years, they failed to hold their nerves in crunch playoff games.
After a two-year suspension, the Dhoni-led team were imperious with their performances with nine wins in 14 games. In the final, they met Sunrisers Hyderabad and won the game in a convincing manner, on the back of Shane Watson’s century. Interestingly, it was Dhoni’s best season, where he slammed 455 runs, with a top score of 79*.
Their dominance was quite visible in the 2021 season, as openers Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad topping the batting charts. They posted 192 on the board in the final against Kolkata Knight Riders, and then bowled well to lift their fourth IPL title by 27 runs.
Gautam Gambhir
Often under-rated captain at times, Gautam Gambhir was chosen as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2011 season, when the team needed the boost the most. The team made a straight away impact as they qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the eliminator.
However, they were terrific to learn from the setback and improve consistency to win 10 of 16 league games in the 2012 edition. In the final, they faced Chennai Super Kings and conceded 190. However, Manvinder Bisla was terrific with a knock of 89 to help KKR secure their maiden IPL title. In fact, Gambhir was sensational throughout the season to finish with 590 runs, with six fifties.
The 2014 season witnessed them winning nine of their 14 league matches. Then, in the final, the Gambhir-led side faced Punjab Kings. The bowlers went on to concede 199, and it was a tough test for the batters. Nevertheless, Manish Pandey slammed 94 off 59 balls to lead KKR to their second IPL title.
Then, Gambhir continued until the 2017 season, but failed to win the trophy. But, Gambhir certainly gave birth to the die-hard Knight Riders during his reign as a leader and is one of the finest captains in the history of the cash-rich league.
Most Successful Captain in IPL History
Based on the overall achievements and records, MS Dhoni ranks as the most successful leader in the Indian Premier League history. The key testament to his greatness is the number of playoff appearances ofq CSK under his leadership. He is the answer to the question of who is best captain in IPL.
Apart from 2020 and 2022, CSK have managed to qualify for the playoffs on 11 occasions in the tournament. Interestingly, they have been part of nine finals, which is terrific to say the least.
The man behind the consistency of the team is MS Dhoni. The ‘Captain Cool’ has the ability to manage the players well, take right decisions, and maintain his composure during crunch moments. Of course, he has had the support from the players, but it takes a captain to promote a strong and fearless performance in a regular manner.
To date, CSK has lifted four IPL titles in 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021. Also, the IPL best captain has over 5,000 runs in the league with 24 fifties to his name. The 41-year-old is the most popular player in the tournament, due to his legacy as a batter and his leadership skills.
Success Metrics of IPL Captains
Below is the table, which depicts the winning percentage, number of title trophies and playoff appearances of three IPL captains.
| Captain | Win Percentage | Trophies Won | Playoff Appearances |
| MS Dhoni | 58.55 | 4 | 11 |
| Rohit Sharma | 55.19 | 5 | 6 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 55.03 | 2 | 5 |
*Note: The stats are updated until the most recent appearances of all three captains.
According to the table, the answer to the question of ‘who is the best captain in IPL?’ is pretty clear. Based on the success metrics, MS Dhoni has four trophies with 11 playoff appearances, with a winning rate of 58.55%. He is followed by Rohit Sharma, who has lifted five IPL titles in six playoff appearances, and a success rate of 55.19. The third on this list is Gautam Gambhir with 55.03% winning rate and two trophies.
The Impact of a Great Captain on IPL Teams
A great leader often has the capability to exude his calmness on the team’s players, which helps them to give their best performance and lead the team to greater heights. With the Indian Premier League being a tightly contested league, all captains have to be on toes to adapt to different situations the game can offer at any point of time.
A great captain often keeps the team shielded from the external pressure elements such as media, fans and stakeholders. He is responsible for promoting a good culture in the team, and maintaining the team’s atmosphere in a long tournament like the IPL. No team holds dominance during the entire league stages, and it’s important for the captain to keep the team in a good stead after a loss, and keep the team grounded after a riveting win.
A big league, with the presence of top T20 players all around the world, gives rise to the leaders, who can ultimately face the pressure of the national team as well. It is quite evident in the rise of MS Dhoni as a leader for the Chennai Super Kings and the Indian team. During his stint at CSK, Dhoni secured the 2011 WC title and 2013 Champions Trophy for India. The opening batter Rohit Sharma has also turned out to be a revolutionary leader for Mumbai Indians, which has paved the way for his leadership role for the Indian team.
The continuous learning process helps the captains to face tough challenges in the IPL, and helps in overall development of his players as well.
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