Since Ajit Wadekar took charge as India’s first ODI captain in 1974, a total of 27 players have led the Indian cricket team in the limited-overs format. As Rohit Sharma continues to captain, questions are swirling about who will succeed him when the time comes.
Will it be Shubman Gill? Or perhaps Shreyas Iyer, as some reports suggest? The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering a two-captain system across formats, with possibilities of appointing different leaders for Tests, T20s, and ODIs.
Let’s take a nostalgic journey through the legacy of India’s ODI captains their stats, achievements, and the moments that defined their leadership.
Pioneers and Trailblazers
– Ajit Wadekar (1974): India’s first ODI captain, led in just 2 matches both of which India lost. A humble beginning for Indian limited-overs cricket.
– Shrinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan (1975-79): Led India in 7 ODIs, with only one victory, six defeats.
– Bishan Singh Bedi (1975-78): Captained 4 matches, with 1 win and 3 losses.
– Sunil Gavaskar (1980-85): Led India in 37 ODIs, with a win percentage of 37.83, winning 14 of those.
– Gundappa Vishwanath (1980): Briief stint, captaining just one match which India lost.
– Kapil Dev (1982-92): The legendary all-rounder’s leadership saw India win 39 out of 74 ODIs, with a win percentage of 52.70. He led India to their first World Cup victory in 1983.
– Said Kirmani (1983): led in one match that India lost.
– Mohinder Amarnath (1984): Captained a single match, result inconclusive.
– Ravi Shastri (1986-91): ed in 11 ODIs, with 4 wins. Now a respected commentator and former head coach.
– Dilip Vengsarkar (1987-88): Oversaw 18 matches, with 8 wins.
– Krishnamachari Srikanth (1989): Led 13 ODIs with 4 wins a win percentage of 30.76.
– Mohammad Azharuddin (1989-99): His decade-long captaincy included 174 matches, with 90 wins and a win rate of 51.72. Under his leadership, India thrived in the 90s.
– Sachin Tendulkar (1996-99): The cricketing god’s captaincy spanned 73 ODIs, with 23 wins. Despite the losses, his leadership was iconic.
– Ajay Jadeja (1998-99): Led 13 ODIs, winning 8.
– Sourav Ganguly (1999-2005): The ‘Prince of Kolkata’ captained 146 ODIs, winning 76 with a success rate of 52.05. Under his leadership, India reached the 2003 World Cup final.
– Rahul Dravid (2000-07): Led in 79 ODIs, with 42 wins. Though his tenure saw ups and downs, his leadership laid foundations for future success.
– Anil Kumble (2002): Led in just one ODI, which India won a testament to his leadership qualities.
– Virender Sehwag (2003-11): Captained 12 ODIs, winning 7.
– MS Dhoni (2007-18): india’s most successful captain, led in 200 ODIs, winning 110 with a win percentage of 55. Under his leadership, India won the 2011 World Cup and became a formidable limited-overs team.
– Suresh Raina (2010-14): Led 20 ODIs, with 12 wins.
– Gautam Gambhir (2010-11): In his brief stint, he captained 6 ODIs, winning all.
– Virat Kohli (2013-21): The modern-day batting legend captained 95 ODIs, securing 65 victories — a winning percentage of 65.42. He retired from T20 and Test formats but continues to lead in ODIs.
– Ajjinkya Rahane (2015): Led only 3 ODIs, winning all three.
– Rohit Sharma (2017-present): The current skipper, Rohit has captained 24 ODIs, leading India to the 2023 World Cup final and winning the Champions Trophy in 2013. His future as captain is a hot topic as he approaches the twilight of his career.
– Shikhar Dhawan (2021-22): Captained 12 ODIs, with 7 wins.
– KL Rahul (2022-23): Led 12 matches, winning 8.
– Hardik Pandya (2023): The latest addition, captaining 3 ODIs with 2 wins and 1 loss.
Who is India’s Most Successful ODI Captain?
While each captain has contributed uniquely, MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev, and Rohit Sharma are often ranked among the most successful. Their leadership, trophies, and the legacy they’ve left behind speak volumes.
