Indian Premier League is one of the most prestigious and competitive cricket leagues in the world. This league has not only unearthed good players in India but also provides a platform to showcase leadership potential. So far, in the history of the IPL, there have been 6 successful captains who have been successful in making the team champion. Rohit Sharma is at the top of the list. He led his team to the championship five times.
Taking charge of the captaincy of any team is not an easy task. Especially in the shorter format, every decision is taken in a hurry. In such a situation, there is a lot of pressure on the captain. If the captain’s decisions prove to be wrong, then the franchise does not retain him for long.
Many players who have played the role of captain in the IPL team have left their indelible mark. This includes many players from different generations, from MS Dhoni to Shreyas Iyer.
Most Successful IPL Captains (2008–2025)
| Player Name | Matches as Captain | Matches Won | Win % | Titles Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 235 | 136 | 57.87% | 5 |
| Rohit Sharma | 158 | 87 | 55.06% | 5 |
| Virat Kohli | 143 | 66 | 46.15% | 0 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 129 | 71 | 55.03% | 2 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 87 | 48 | 55.17% | 0 |
| David Warner | 83 | 40 | 48.19% | 1 |
| Hardik Pandya | 60 | 35 | 58.33% | 1 |
| Shane Warne | 55 | 30 | 54.54% | 1 |
| Adam Gilchrist | 74 | 35 | 47.29% | 1 |
| KL Rahul | 64 | 31 | 48.43% | 0 |
Most Successful Captains in IPL History
In today’s article, we will explore the top 10 most successful IPL captains. who have made their own identity by bringing success to the team.
1. MS Dhoni
With his best performance and calm leadership, Dhoni gave a different identity to the Chennai Super Kings. Under his leadership, Chennai Super Kings won the IPL championship in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023. Chennai Super Kings became the most successful league by winning the championship five times under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has played 235 matches and led his team to victory in 136 matches. His winning percentage is 57.87%. Except for the 2016, 2020 and 2022 seasons, he has led his team to the playoffs in all the seasons.
2. Rohit Sharma
It would not be an exaggeration if Rohit Sharma was called the pillar of strength of the Mumbai team. Mumbai Indians have won the IPL 5 times under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. He led MI to the title in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. His ability to play with restraint under pressure and take the right decisions made him one of the most successful captains. Rohit Sharma has played 158 IPL matches as captain, out of which he has won 87 matches. He is the only captain to win the title five times in 8 years. His winning percentage is 56.64.
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3. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli’s passion for the game is clearly evident on the field. Due to his dedication, Royal Challengers Bangalore reached the playoffs many times. Although the team did not win any titles, Virat Kohli has impressed the audience with his playing style among all the batsmen.
Virat Kohli is known for his unmatched passion and intensity on the field. As the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from 2011 to 2023, he led the team in 143 matches, securing 66 wins with a win percentage of 46.15%. In IPL 2025 RCB lifted the Title of IPL
4. Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambir is known for his aggressive nature. Gautam Gambhir made Kolkata Knight Riders a strong team. Under his leadership, Kolkata Knight Riders have won the IPL championship twice, in 2012 and 2014. From 2009 to 2018, Gautam Gambhir played a total of 129 matches in the role of captain, out of which he won 71 matches. His winning percentage was 55.03%.
5. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is known as a calm and composed leader. Delhi Capitals in 2020 and PBKS in 2025 reached the final of match in which Shreyas Iyer played an important role. He was successful in making the PBKS team into a strong contender.
6. David Warner
David Warner took over the reins of Sunrisers Hyderabad and made the team a strong competitor. David Warner proved his efficient leadership by giving Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) its first IPL title in 2016.
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7. Adam Gilchrist
Under the leadership of Adam Gilchrist, the Deccan Chargers won their first IPL championship in 2009. Adam Gilchrist is a fearless and courageous wicketkeeper batsman. This Australian legend made the team fearless by playing an aggressive role as captain. Adam Gill played 74 matches as captain, out of which he won 35 matches. His winning percentage was 47.29.
8. Shane Warne
One of the most successful captains, Shane Warne played an important role for Rajasthan Royals. Due to his excellent strategy and mindset, Rajasthan Royals won the IPL championship in 2008. Shane Warne captained Rajasthan Royals from 2008 to 2011, winning 30 out of 55 matches. His winning percentage was 55.45.
9. KL Rahul
KL Rahul has led Punjab Kings and Lucknow Supergiants as captain. The team has performed well under his leadership. Although he has not yet been able to win the IPL championship for any team, he still led the teams to a strong position in the competitive era.
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10. Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag fearlessly captained the Daredevils. Recently, the Daredevils are known as Delhi Captain. Although the team did not win the IPL title under his leadership. But Virender Sehwag’s aggressive strategy made Delhi a tough opponent.
