Most Successful Captains in IPL History (2008 – 2024)

A cricket team has 11 players, and one of them is the captain. The captain’s job is really important because they lead the team and make big decisions during the game. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), which started in 2008, many captains have stood out by guiding their teams to win the trophy. Let’s take a look at some of these great captains who have helped their teams become IPL champions from 2008 to 2024.

List of IPL Winning Captains (2008 – 2024)

Let’s take a look at how some of the best IPL captains have performed over the years. A captain’s success isn’t just about how many titles they’ve won, but also about how often they’ve led their team to victory season after season. Here’s a list of the IPL captains who have been the most successful, based on the percentage of matches they’ve won:

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

1. IPL 2008 – Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals)

In the first season of the IPL, Shane Warne, who was the only non-Indian captain, led Rajasthan Royals (RR) to their first and only IPL victory. Even though his team had many lesser-known players, Warne’s smart strategies and leadership helped RR win the title.

2. IPL 2009 – Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers)

Adam Gilchrist captained Deccan Chargers to their first IPL title in 2009. Under his guidance, the team went from being the worst in 2008 to becoming champions in 2009. His aggressive style and inspiring leadership were key to their win against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the final.

3. IPL 2010 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their first IPL title in 2010. Known for his calm attitude and sharp cricketing mind, Dhoni’s leadership was crucial in CSK’s success, marking the start of a golden period for the team.

4. IPL 2011 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

Continuing his winning streak, Dhoni led CSK to their second IPL title in 2011, making them the first team to win back-to-back titles. This solidified Dhoni’s place as one of the most successful IPL captains.

5. 2012 – Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Gautam Gambhir led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their first IPL title in 2012. His leadership, marked by determination and aggression, transformed KKR into a strong team, and they beat CSK in the final.

6. IPL 2013 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)

Rohit Sharma took over as the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) during the 2013 season and led them to their first IPL win. His calmness under pressure and smart decisions made him one of the best IPL captains.

7. IPL 2014 – Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Gautam Gambhir once again led KKR to victory in 2014, securing their second IPL title. His leadership and clever tactics were on full display as KKR won against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in a thrilling final.

8. IPL 2015 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)

Rohit Sharma continued his success with MI, leading them to their second IPL title in 2015. Despite a rough start to the season, Rohit’s leadership helped MI make an amazing comeback, winning the title with a series of great performances.

9. IPL 2016 – David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

David Warner captained Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to their first IPL title in 2016. Warner’s aggressive batting and proactive leadership played a big role in SRH’s win over RCB in the final.

10. IPL 2017 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)

Rohit Sharma led MI to their third IPL title in 2017. His smart decisions and ability to motivate his team during crucial moments were key to MI’s victory, making him one of the most successful IPL captains.

11. IPL 2018 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

After a two-year ban, CSK returned to the IPL in 2018 with MS Dhoni as captain. Dhoni’s leadership once again shone through as he guided CSK to their third IPL title, further proving his legendary status.

12. IPL 2019 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)

Rohit Sharma led MI to their fourth IPL title in 2019, making MI the most successful team in IPL history at that time. His leadership was crucial in MI’s narrow one-run win over CSK in the final.

13. IPL 2020 – Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)

Rohit Sharma continued to dominate by leading MI to their fifth IPL title in 2020. MI was the best team throughout the tournament, and Rohit’s leadership was a big reason for their success.

14. IPL 2021 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

MS Dhoni again showed his leadership skills by guiding CSK to their fourth IPL title in 2021. Despite some tough moments during the league stage, Dhoni’s calm captaincy helped CSK win when it mattered most.

15. IPL 2022 – Hardik Pandya (Gujarat Titans)

Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans (GT) to the IPL title in their debut season in 2022. His all-round performances and inspiring leadership were key to GT’s remarkable journey to becoming champions in their very first season.

16. IPL 2023 – MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

In 2023, MS Dhoni led CSK to their fifth IPL title, equaling MI’s record. Dhoni’s ability to lead by example and make important decisions under pressure was once again evident as CSK triumphed in the final.

17. IPL 2024 – Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Shreyas Iyer became the latest captain to win the IPL by leading KKR to their third title in 2024. His leadership and consistent batting performances were key to KKR’s success, as they defeated SRH in the final.

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