Captain! A responsible player who leads the team towards success in every sport, including cricket, football, hockey, and others. Representing their country is one of the most important achievements of every captain’s career.
Cricket is one of the most played and watched sports in the world. Since the first match in the 19th century, many legends of the game have captained their national teams and taken their team to new heights.
In every match, the captain has to manage, pressure, and help his team to win the match. From Mahendra Singh Dhoni to Ricky Ponting, there are plenty of good captains who played their roles well. Let’s shed light on some of the best captains in the world who make cricket more exciting.
10 Smartest Captains of the World All-time
Here we will talk about some of the most popular players who helped their team win many matches as captain.
10) Imran Khan (Pakistan)
Imran Khan is considered one of the world’s most legendary cricket captains. Under his leadership, Pakistan won its first World Cup in 1992. He transformed the team with determination, leaving an indelible mark on Pakistani cricket.
9) Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
From 1974 to 1985, the West Indies team won the World Cup consecutively, and at that time the team was commanded by Clive Lloyd. He is a great captain who played 74 matches and won 36 among all.
8) Allan Border (Australia)
He is on the list because of his impressive gameplay throughout his career. He played 271 matches and won 139 of them as a captain. Allan was known for his sharp cricketing brain, innovative field placements, and ability to get the best out of his players.
7) Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India)
When someone talks about who is the best captain in the world, the very first name that strikes everyone’s mind is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He is a wicketkeeper in the Indian team and is also known as Thala.
M.S. Dhoni won 178 matches as a captain, and team India played 332 matches in Dhoni’s captaincy. As the most successful captain in the world, Thala won many trophies, including three ICC, the T20 World Cup 2007, and the Champions Trophy in 2013. The best thing that happened during his captaincy was that India attained the best test cricket ranking of No. 1.
6) Graeme Smith (South Africa)
Graeme Smith, who became South Africa’s captain at just 22, became one of the longest-serving and most successful captains in the Test. He won 163 matches out of 286 as a captain. He smashed double centuries against England in a Test during the South Africa Tour of England in 2003.
5) Mike Brearley (England)
He is a popular player who is known for his excellent leadership qualities. Mike is the man credit with reviving English cricket and winning the Ashes. He added an excellent win ratio to his team and won 18 out of 31 matches as captain.
4) Virat Kohli (India)
Virat Kohli is a popular cricket player and best opener batsman who is the idol of most of the young cricket fans. He is the best captain in cricket and plays for team India. Kholi, also known as King Kholi, played 213 matches and won 135 among them, giving a winning rate of 63.38 percent.
This Delhi-born cricketer broke many records during his captaincy. In December 2014, he played for the first time as a captain for the Bordergate Trophy, scored a century in the first inning, and played many national and international matches as a captain.
3) Hansie Cronje (South Africa)
In the late 1990s, he was one of the greatest players and captains in the South Africa team who led this team to victory in their captaincy. He played an impressive 191 matches and won 126 as a captain.
2) Steve Waugh (Australia)
He led Australia as a captain from 1999 to 2004 and was renown for his brilliant captaincy. Steve is one of the most popular cricket players in the world who played 163 matches and won 108 matches with an impressive win ratio of 66.25.
1) Ricky Ponting (Australia)
A No. 1 overseas player who played many matches as captain for Australia and is the only player in cricket history to win more than 100 matches with the highest number of wins in Test format. Pointing is known for its aggressive play, and this is the main reason behind winning 220 out of 324 matches.
| Player | Country | Total Matches | Won | Lost | Winning percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricky Ponting | England | 324 | 220 | 77 | 67.90 |
| Steve Waugh | Australia | 163 | 108 | 44 | 66.25 |
| Hansie Cronje | South Africa | 191 | 126 | 46 | 65.96 |
| Virat Kholi | India | 213 | 135 | 60 | 63.38 |
| Mike Brearley | England | 31 | 18 | 04 | 58.06 |
| Graeme Smith | South Africa | 286 | 163 | 89 | 56.99 |
| Mahendra Singh Dhoni | India | 332 | 178 | 120 | 54.61 |
| Allan Border | Australia | 271 | 139 | 89 | 51.29 |
| Clive Lloyd | West Indies | 74 | 36 | 12 | 48.64 |
| Imran Khan | Pakistan | 48 | 14 | 08 | 29.16 |
It’s a wrap
It is a bit difficult to call anyone the best captain in the world. There are many, and it depends on the ears, playing conditions, and squad dynamics. Plenty of captains like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Ricky Ponting, and others set benchmarks for the game. Their brilliant gameplay and inspirational leadership make this game more exciting. Ultimately, the great cricket captain is not define by statistics alone but by their impact on the game and the legacy they leave behind.
FAQs
Who is the most successful cricket captain?
The most successful captain is Mahendra Singh Dhoni who played for team India. Won the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2013 Champions Trophy, and the 2011 World Cup while he was captain.
What qualities make a great cricket captain?
The best captain in cricket must have strategic thinking, decision-making skills, an understanding of the game, and many more.
Which cricket captain has won the most ICC trophies?
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the one and only captain in cricket history who has won the most ICC trophies, including the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and Champions Trophy.
Who is considered the best cricket captain in the world?
Based on leadership skills, victories, and contributions to the team, players such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Steve Waugh, Clive Lloyd, Sir Don Bradman, and Ricky Ponting are the finest cricket captains.