IPL 2024
Top five captains with best win percentages in the Indian T20 League
Indian T20 League is a popular league in the history of cricket and cricketers across the world participate here. The most successful franchises of this league are Mumbai and Chennai with five and four titles respectively. Besides them, former Kolkata franchise skipper Gautam Gambhir has won two championships with his squad.
While former skippers Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, and David Warner have also led their teams to one championship each. Rajasthan and Gujarat franchises are the only sides to lift the title on the first go. According to the number of wins to matches played since the league’s establishment, the following captains (minimum 50 matches) have the highest win percentage:
5. Gautam Gambhir – 55.03% (Delhi and Kolkata)
Gautam Gambhir (Source: Twitter)
Gautam Gambhir started his Indian T20 League captaincy for the Delhi franchise in 2010 and then he was transferred to the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata franchise. He took the side to two titles, first in 2012 and then in 2014. He is known for his aggressive approach to captaincy. The former cricketer has captained the side in 129 matches out of which he won 71 matches and lost 57 matches. The 41-year-old has a win percentage of 55.03.
4. Shane Warne – 56.36% (Rajasthan)
Shane Warne (Source: Twitter)
Australian legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne won the inaugural season of the Indian T20 League in 2008 with Rajasthan. His side were the dark horses during that season and not many expected them to lift the title, but Warne and co. proved everyone wrong. It was Chennai, led by MS Dhoni, they won against in the final. He captained his side on 55 occasions, out of which the team won 30 matches and lost 24 matches. He has a win percentage of 56.36%.
3. Rohit Sharma – 56.64% (Mumbai)
Rohit Sharma (Source: Twitter)
India’s all-format skipper Rohit Sharma is the only player to lift the title both as a player and as a captain. He has lifted the title most number of times, that is on five occasions as the captain of Mumbai and once in 2009 as a player with the Deccan franchise. He took over the captaincy in the middle of the 2013 edition from the former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting and took his team to their maiden title in 2013. And from there on, there was no looking back for him. Under his leadership, the Mumbai-based franchise has played 104 matches so far out of which the side won 60 matches and lost 42 matches. He has a win percentage of 56.64%.
2. Sachin Tendulkar – 58.82% (Mumbai)
Sachin Tendulkar (Source: Twitter)
Sachin Tendulkar also known as the ‘God of Cricket’ played six seasons for Mumbai and captained them during 2008-12. He was the orange cap holder in the 2010 edition and also led them to a final in the season, before eventually losing to Chennai in the penultimate game. He led his side in 51 matches, out of which the Mumbai side won 30 and lost 21 matches respectively. He has a win percentage of 58.82.
1. MS Dhoni – 58.85% (Chennai and Pune)
MS Dhoni (Source: Twitter)
The most successful Indian T20 League skipper in history is MS Dhoni. This Indian superstar has won the most Indian T20 League games overall while representing in 13 seasons for Chennai and one season for Pune. With Chennai in 2010, 2011, and 2018, MS Dhoni won the Indian T20 League title. Dhoni, an iconic name in Indian cricket, is known for his tactical awareness, cricketing intelligence, guile and leadership skills. He has a win percentage of 58.85 in the 174 matches he has led so far.