Captaincy is one of the most important aspects of any team sport. It is the captain and the think tank are the ones that formulate the strategies and tactics, to get the team on the groove. The Indian Premier League has seen some veterans of the game, captain their franchises, while others have been prodigies.
The captaincy decisions that are made in-game, most times prove to be the game-changers. From Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting to MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, IPL has been a platform for captains to rise to the occasion.
As we prepare for the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, here is the answer to a question, many have asked in the past. "Who is the greatest captain in the IPL?"
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Who is the greatest captain in the IPL?
The greatest captain in IPL, "What would be the metric for it?' you'd wonder. It is fairly simple in sport. Any captain leading a team is judged by the accolades he's won for the team. Being the leader of the pack, the skipper is always remembered for the trophies he delivered.
The IPL has seen some highly successful individuals. From Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni to Gautam Gambhir, there have been some fantastic captains who have delivered IPL trophies, not one, but more.
Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are tied at the top for being the most successful captains in the history of the tournament. While Sharma won five IPL titles as the captain of Mumbai Indians, Dhoni won five while leading the Chennai Super Kings.
MORE: Will MS Dhoni retire after IPL 2024?
List of most successful captains in IPL
| Rank | Player | IPL Titles won | Team Captained | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MS Dhoni | 5 | Chennai Super Kings | 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023 |
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | 5 | Mumbai Indians | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| 2 | Gautam Gambhir | 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2012, 2014 |
| 3 | Shane Warne | 1 | Rajasthan Royals | 2008 |
| 3 | Adam Gilchrist | 1 | Deccan Chargers | 2009 |
| 3 | David Warner | 1 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2016 |
| 3 | Hardik Pandya | 1 | Gujarat Titans | 2022 |
It is peculiar to note that no captain has led two different IPL franchises to glory, in the history of the competition. Tells you how big of an aspect loyalty is, in franchise cricket in India.
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