Most Successful Captains in IPL History (2008 – 2024)
A cricket team has 11 players, including the captain, who leads the team and makes important decisions during the game. The captain plays a crucial role in the team’s success, especially in the high-pressure IPL environment. From 2008 to 2024, many captains have left their mark in IPL history by guiding their teams to victory.
Let’s take a closer look at these remarkable leaders who have lifted the IPL trophy and earned the title of the Most Successful Captains in IPL History (2008 – 2024).
List of Captains to Win the Indian Premier League (2008 – 2024)
2024 – Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Shreyas Iyer is the newest captain to win an IPL title after leading KKR to their third championship in 2024. His excellent leadership and reliable batting were crucial in helping KKR win. They defeated SRH in the final to secure the title.
2023 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
In 2023, MS Dhoni guided CSK to their fifth IPL title, matching MI’s record. Dhoni’s skill in leading the team and making important decisions under pressure was clear once again as CSK won the final.
2022 – Hardik Pandya (Gujarat Titans)
Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans (GT) to an IPL title in their debut season in 2022. His all-round skills and motivating leadership were crucial in GT’s incredible journey to becoming champions in their first season.
2021 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
MS Dhoni showed his leadership skills again by leading CSK to their fourth IPL title in 2021. Even though CSK struggled towards the end of the league stage, Dhoni’s calm and steady captaincy helped the team perform their best when it mattered most.
2020 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
Rohit Sharma kept up his winning streak by leading MI to their fifth IPL title in 2020. MI was the top team throughout the tournament, and Rohit’s leadership was a key factor in their success.
2019 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
Rohit Sharma led MI to their fourth IPL title in 2019, making them the most successful team in IPL history. His leadership was vital in MI’s close one-run win over CSK in the final, solidifying his reputation as a brilliant strategist.
2018 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
After a two-year suspension, CSK came back to the IPL in 2018 with MS Dhoni as their captain. Dhoni’s leadership stood out once again as he led CSK to their third IPL title, further cementing his legacy as a legendary captain.
2017 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
Rohit Sharma led MI to their third IPL title in 2017. His smart decisions and talent for inspiring his team during important moments were key to MI’s victory. This success made him one of the most successful captains in IPL history.
2016 – David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
David Warner led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to their first IPL title in 2016. His bold batting and active leadership were crucial to their win, especially in the final where they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
2015 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians (MI) to their second IPL title in 2015. Even though the team started the season badly, Rohit’s strong leadership helped them turn things around. MI made a great comeback and ended up winning the title with some excellent performances.
2014 – Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Gautam Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their second IPL title in 2014. His smart leadership and tactics helped KKR win the final against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in a thrilling match.
2013 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
Rohit Sharma became the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) during the 2013 season and led them to their first IPL title. His clever leadership and calmness under pressure helped make him one of the most successful IPL captains.
2012 – Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Gautam Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their first IPL title in 2012. His aggressive and determined leadership made KKR a strong team, and they won the final against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
2011 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
Dhoni guided Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their second IPL title in a row in 2011. They were the first team to win back-to-back titles, boosting Dhoni’s reputation as one of the top captains in IPL history.
2010 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their first IPL title in 2010. His calm nature and smart cricket decisions were crucial to their success, starting a golden period for the team.
2009 – Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers)
Adam Gilchrist led Deccan Chargers to their first IPL title in 2009. Under his leadership, the team went from finishing last in 2008 to winning the championship in 2009. Gilchrist’s bold and inspiring captaincy was key to their win over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the final.
2008 – Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals)
In the first season of the IPL, Shane Warne, the only foreign captain, led Rajasthan Royals (RR) to their first and only IPL title. Even though the team had many lesser-known players, Warne’s smart leadership helped RR achieve a historic win, making him the first captain to win the IPL trophy.
ALSO READ ; IPL: Rating Top 10 Jerseys of All Time
Top IPL Captains by Games Played and Experience
A captain’s success isn’t just about the number of titles won but also their ability to consistently lead their team to victory over many seasons. Here’s a list of the top IPL captains based on their win percentage:
| Rank | Player | Matches | Won | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MS Dhoni (CSK/RPS) | 226 | 133 | 91 | 59.37 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma (MI) | 158 | 87 | 67 | 56.32 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli (RCB) | 143 | 66 | 70 | 48.56 |
| 4 | Gautam Gambhir (DC/KKR) | 129 | 71 | 57 | 55.42 |
| 5 | David Warner (DC/SRH) | 83 | 40 | 41 | 49.39 |
| 6 | Adam Gilchrist (DC/KXIP) | 74 | 35 | 39 | 47.29 |
| 7 | Shreyas Iyer (DC/KKR) | 55 | 27 | 26 | 50.90 |
| 8 | Shane Warne (RR) | 55 | 30 | 24 | 55.45 |
| 9 | Virender Sehwag (DC/KXIP) | 53 | 28 | 24 | 53.77 |
| 10 | KL Rahul (KXIP/LSG/PBKS) | 51 | 25 | 24 | 50.98 |
| 11 | Sachin Tendulkar (MI) | 51 | 30 | 21 | 58.82 |
| 12 | Rahul Dravid (RCB/RR) | 48 | 22 | 26 | 45.83 |
| 13 | Kumara Sangakkara (DC/KXIP/SRH) | 47 | 15 | 30 | 34.04 |
| 14 | Kane Williamson (SRH) | 46 | 22 | 23 | 48.91 |
| 15 | Sanju Samson (RR) | 45 | 22 | 23 | 48.88 |
| 16 | Dinesh Karthik (DC/KKR) | 43 | 21 | 21 | 50.00 |
| 17 | Steve Smith (PWI/RPS/RR) | 43 | 25 | 17 | 59.52 |
| 18 | Yuvraj Singh (KXIP/PWI) | 43 | 21 | 21 | 50.00 |
| 19 | Saurav Ganguly (KKR/PWI) | 42 | 17 | 25 | 41.67 |
| 20 | Faf du Plessis (CSK/RCB) | 38 | 21 | 16 | 56.75 |
| 21 | Rishabh Pant (DC) | 32 | 17 | 15 | 53.12 |
| 22 | Kevin Pietersen (DD/RCB) | 31 | 12 | 19 | 38.71 |
Who is the winning captain of IPL 2008?
Warne’s smart leadership helped RR achieve a historic win, making him the first captain to win the IPL trophy.
Who is the most successful captain in IPL history?
MS Dhoni guided CSK to their fifth IPL title, matching MI’s record. Dhoni’s skill in leading the team and making important decisions under pressure was clear once again as CSK won the final.
