In the IPL, what we see is not always true. We see captains winning and losing; some win one after another, while others lose consecutively. Fans, being emotional about their captain, sometimes get disappointed when they fail, but they don’t see the hard work the captain has done to reach that position and win that match. They don’t just play and set the fields; they are also the decision-makers for both minor and bold decisions, which can influence the whole match and give it a different direction.
Despite ups and downs, the captain works as a compass, giving directions to their team and shaping it to perform well on the field. In this blog, we will look at the 11 Most Successful Captains in IPL History (2008–2025), who have elevated their teams’ names so high that they will be remembered for decades.
Criteria to consider a captain “Successful”
In IPL, a captain’s success is often judged by how many times they have won the title, but this does not apply to every individual captain. Some have made their name even without winning an IPL trophy, through their hard work, passion for the game, and, most importantly, by leading their team like a true captain—not just a nominal one. Virat Kohli is one such example who has established his legacy even without lifting an IPL trophy, yet is still counted among the top successful captains. Based on this criterion, we will rank the most successful captains in IPL history.
The List of 11 Successful Captains
1. MS Dhoni (CSK/RPS)
- First leadership: In 2008 for CSK
- Total Matches: 233 matches as a captain between 2008–2015, 2018–2023 for Chennai Super Kings, and 2016-2017 for Rising Pune Supergiants
- Matches Won: 135
- Matches Lost: 96
- Win Percentage: 58.44%
- Title won so far: 5 (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023)
2. Rohit Sharma (MI)
- First captaincy: In 2013 for My Mumbai Indians
- Total Matches: 158 matches as a captain between 2013 and 2023
- Matches Won: 87
- Win Percentage: 56.49%
- Title won so far: 6 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023)
3. Gautam Gambhir (DD/KKR)
- First captaincy: In 2011 for the Kolkata Knight Riders between
- Total Matches: 129 matches as a captain between 2011-2017 for Kolkata Knight Riders and 2018 for Delhi Daredevils
- Matches Won: 71
- Matches Lost: 57
- Win Percentage: 55.42%
- Title won so far: 2 (2012, 2014)
4. Shane Warne (RR)
- First captaincy: In 2008 for the Rajasthan Royals.
- Total Matches: 55 matches as a captain between 2008 and 2011
- Matches Won: 30
- Matches Lost: 24
- Win Percentage: 55.56%
- Title won so far: 2 (2012, 2014)
5. David Warner (SRH)
- First captaincy: In 2015 for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- Total Matches: 83 matches as a captain between 2015–2017, 2020–mid-2021 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and 2023 for Delhi Captains
- Matches Won: 40
- Matches Lost: 41
- Win Percentage: 49.39%
- Title won so far: 1 (2016 with SRH)
6. Virat Kohli (RCB)
- First captaincy: In 2013 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
- Total Matches: 143 matches as a captain between 2013 and 2021
- Matches Won: 66
- Matches Lost: 70
- Win Percentage: 48.56%
- Title won so far: 1
7. Shreyas Iyer (DC/KKR/PBKS)
- First captaincy: In 2018 for the Delhi Capitals.
- Total Matches: 82 matches as a captain between 2018(interim)-2021 for Delhi Capitals, 2022-2024 for Kolkata Knight Riders and 2025 for Punjab Kings.
- Matches Won: 46
- Matches Lost: 32
- Win Percentage: 58.97%
- Title won so far: 1 (2024 with KKR)
8. Sachin Tendulkar (MI)
- First captaincy: In 2008 for the Mumbai Indians
- Total Matches: 51 matches as a captain between 2008 and 2010.
- Matches Won: 30
- Matches Lost: 21
- Win Percentage: 58.82%
- Title won so far: 0
9. Adam Gilchrist (DC/KXIP)
- First captaincy: In 2008 for Deccan Chargers.
- Total Matches: 74 matches as a captain between 2008-2010 for Deccan Chargers, and 2011 for Kings XI Punjab
- Matches Won: 35
- Matches Lost: 39
- Win Percentage: 47.29%
- Title won so far: 1 (2009 – with Deccan Chargers)
10. Steve Smith (RPS/RR)
- First captaincy: In 2012 for Pune Warriors India.
- Total Matches: 43 matches as a captain in 2012 for Pune Warriors India, 2015, 2019 Rajasthan Royals, and 2017 Rising Pune Supergiants
- Matches Won: 25
- Matches Lost: 17
- Win Percentage: 59.52%
11. Virender Sehwag (DD/KXIP)
- First captaincy: In 2012 for Pune Warriors India.
- Total Matches: 53 matches as a captain between 2008-2010 for Delhi Daredevils, and 2014 for Kings XI Punjab
- Matches Won: 28
- Matches Lost: 24
- Win Percentage: 53.77%
Conclusion
These players have not just played the matches and set the fields, but they have also worked as a compass for their teams–showing the right direction. They raised their teams through their performance and leadership skills, proving themselves as the right choice to be selected as leaders. Some of them may not have won the title, but they still took their teams so far ahead that the title doesn’t matter for them.
