Captaincy in cricket is more than just a title – it’s about leadership, strategy, and the ability to inspire a team on and off the field. The Indian cricket team has had many legendary captains over the years in Test, ODI, and T20 formats, both for the men’s and women’s sides. Each captain has brought their own style of leadership, shaping India’s journey in international cricket.
As of 2025, Shubman Gill leads India in Tests and ODIs, Suryakumar Yadav captains the T20I team, and Harmanpreet Kaur continues to lead the Indian women’s team across formats.
Indian Men’s Cricket Team Captains
1. Test Captains of India
India played its first Test in 1932 under C.K. Nayudu. Since then, 37 players have led the team in Test cricket. From legends like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli to present skipper Shubman Gill, India’s Test captaincy has seen a journey of resilience and dominance.
Current Test Captain (2025): Shubman Gill
| No. | Captain | Span | Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C.K. Nayudu | 1932–1934 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.00 |
| 18 | Sunil Gavaskar | 1976–1985 | 47 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 19.14 |
| 21 | Kapil Dev | 1982–1987 | 34 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 11.76 |
| 27 | Sourav Ganguly | 2000–2005 | 49 | 21 | 13 | 15 | 42.86 |
| 31 | MS Dhoni | 2008–2015 | 60 | 27 | 18 | 15 | 45.00 |
| 32 | Virat Kohli | 2014–2021 | 68 | 40 | 17 | 11 | 58.82 |
| 35 | Rohit Sharma | 2022–2024 | 24 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 50.00 |
| 37 | Shubman Gill | 2025–Present | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 50.00 |
See Also:- Most Dangerous Batsman in the World
2. ODI Captains of India
India played its first ODI in 1974 under Ajit Wadekar. Since then, the team has been led by 27 captains. The most successful has been MS Dhoni, who not only won the 2011 World Cup but also guided India to many memorable victories.
Current ODI Captain (2025): Shubman Gill
| Captain | Span | Matches | Wins | Losses | Tied/NR | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajit Wadekar | 1974 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kapil Dev | 1982–1992 | 74 | 39 | 33 | 2 | 52.70 |
| Mohammad Azharuddin | 1989–1999 | 174 | 90 | 76 | 8 | 51.72 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 1999–2005 | 146 | 76 | 65 | 5 | 52.05 |
| Rahul Dravid | 2000–2007 | 79 | 42 | 33 | 4 | 53.16 |
| MS Dhoni | 2007–2018 | 200 | 110 | 74 | 16 | 55.00 |
| Virat Kohli | 2013–2021 | 95 | 65 | 27 | 3 | 68.42 |
| Rohit Sharma | 2017–2025 | 56 | 42 | 12 | 2 | 75.00 |
| Shubman Gill | 2025–Present | Ongoing | – | – | – | – |
You Can See Also:- Most Controversial Bats in Cricket History
3. T20I Captains of India
India’s first T20I was played in 2006 under Virender Sehwag. Since then, the team has had 14 captains. MS Dhoni led India to the 2007 T20 World Cup win, and Rohit Sharma guided India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title.
Current T20I Captain (2025): Suryakumar Yadav
| Captain | Years | Matches | Wins | Losses | Tied/NR | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virender Sehwag | 2006 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| MS Dhoni | 2007–2016 | 72 | 41 | 28 | 3 | 56.94 |
| Virat Kohli | 2017–2021 | 50 | 30 | 16 | 4 | 66.67 |
| Rohit Sharma | 2017–2024 | 62 | 49 | 12 | 1 | 79.03 |
| Hardik Pandya | 2022–2023 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 65.52 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 2023–Present | 29 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 79.31 |
Indian Women’s Cricket Team Captains
The women’s team began their international journey in 1976 under Shantha Rangaswamy. Since then, captains like Diana Edulji, Mithali Raj, and now Harmanpreet Kaur have led the side to global recognition.
Current Women’s Captain (2025): Harmanpreet Kaur (All Formats)
| Captain | Format | Matches | Wins | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shantha Rangaswamy | Test | First captain, 1976 | – | Led India’s debut |
| Diana Edulji | ODI | First ODI captain, 1978 | – | Pioneer leader |
| Mithali Raj | T20I (2006) | 32 | 17 | Laid foundation in T20s |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | All formats (2012–2025) | 127 T20Is as captain | 73 wins | Led India to Asian Games Gold 2023, CWG Silver 2022 |
Key Takeaways
- Shubman Gill is the current Test and ODI captain of India (Men’s).
- Suryakumar Yadav leads India in T20Is (Men’s).
- Harmanpreet Kaur continues to captain the Indian women’s team across formats.
- MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma stand as India’s most successful leaders with World Cup titles in ODI and T20 formats.
Read Also:- Most Successful Captains in Asia Cup History
Conclusion
The journey of Indian cricket captains is a reflection of the country’s cricketing legacy – from C.K. Nayudu in 1932 to Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav in 2025. Each captain has left behind a mark, shaping India’s rise as a cricket powerhouse. With new faces taking leadership roles, the future of Indian cricket promises fresh milestones and historic triumphs.
