MS Dhoni is arguably the best captain in IPL history. Dhoni has the highest winning percentage (more than 50 matches) among all the captains (59.37%) and led the Chennai team to most IPL finals (10), and most titles (5).

Rohit Sharma has also won the most titles as captain (5) and enjoys the second-highest winning rate. Gujarat’s ex-skipper Hardik Pandya has put his name in this discussion with the constant success he got with the franchise. Pandya will captain the Mumbai Indians in the 2024 season.

Most Successful Captains in IPL History (2008-2025)

The Indian T20 League is the world's most popular T20 cricket league. Since its inception in 2008, the league has seen many great captains who have led their teams to glory. Here is a list of the top 10 most successful captains in IPL history.

1) MS Dhoni (Chennai, Pune) - Win Rate 59.37%

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is regarded by many as the best captain in IPL history. He has led Chennai to record 5 titles and 5 runner-up finishes. He has a win rate of 59.37%, higher than any other captain. Dhoni is known for his cool and calm attitude and excellent leadership skills, and he gets the best out of his team. He started Chennai captaincy in the 2008 edition. He was also captain of the now-defunct Pune team in 2016 and 2017 when Chennai was suspended

Also read: Highest Partnerships in IPL

2) Rohit Sharma (Mumbai) - Win Rate 56.32%

Another name that comes up in every discussion about the top captains is Rohit Sharma. Rohit has led Mumbai Indians to 5 titles, making him the joint most successful captain in IPL history when it comes to trophies won. He is also the captain of the Indian cricket team. He is known for his excellent decision-making skills and ability to lead by example in high-pressure situations. Rohit led Mumbai from 2013 to 2023 and captained more than 150 matches in the Indian Premier League.

3) Gautam Gambhir (Delhi, Kolkata) - Win Rate 55.42%

Gautam Gambhir is the only captain other than Dhoni and Rohit to captain a team to more than one title in the league. Gambhir moved from Delhi to replace Ganguly as the new Kolkata captain (2011-2017) and proved his leadership skills. He captained 129 matches with 71 wins and won the trophy in 2012 and 2014 with Kolkata. He also led the Delhi Team for some time. Now, he is currently the coach of the Indian cricket team. 

Also read: Lowest Score in IPL

4) Shreyas Iyer (Delhi, Kolkata) - Win Rate 54.28%

Shreyas Iyer is the only captain to take two different teams to the IPL final. Iyer captained Delhi to the 2020 final (losing to Mumbai) and Kolkata to final in 2024. Shreyas captained 70 matches with 38 wins and won the trophy in 2024 with Kolkata. He led the Delhi Team for from 2018 to 2021 before moving to Kolkata. 

5) David Warner (Delhi, Hyderabad) - Win Rate 49.39%

Only three overseas captains - Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, and David Warner - have lifted the Indian T20 League title in the last 15 years. Each of them has a unique leadership style and has been successful in his own right. Warner is the most successful overseas batter in the league, with close to 6400 runs in 176 matches. He captained Hyderabad and Delhi in 83 games, won 40 of them, and won the title in 2016 with the Orange Army.

Also read: Highest Individual Score in IPL History

Team Captains in IPL 2025

List of the 10 captains in IPL 2025. Rishabh Pant (playing then for DC) and Shreyas Iyer (playing then for KKR) missed the last year's tournament due to injuries.

To conclude, it is difficult to say who the number one Indian T20 League captain is. Each of the captains mentioned above has achieved great success and contributed to the growth and popularity of the IPL. They are all great leaders who know how to inspire their teams to perform to the best of their potential. Cricket fans often have different opinions about the best captain, which usually comes down to personal preferences.

FAQs

Which captain has been most successful in the IPL?

Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are the most successful captains in the IPL. Rohit has won 5 titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020) with Mumbai and Dhoni has won 5 titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023) with Chennai.

Who is the best captain in IPL history?

In terms of most success, MS Dhoni is the best captain in IPL history. He has captained 226 matches and won 133 matches (59.37%). Dhoni has also won 5 titles with Chennai. Dhoni captained Chennai from 2008 to 2023.

Who is the most successful overseas IPL captain ?

Australia's David Warner is the most successful overseas captain in the IPL. He captained Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals in a total of 83 matches and won 40. Warner won the title with SRH in 2016.   

Who is the captain of Bangalore in IPL 2025?

Rajat Patidar is the new captain who will be leading RCB in IPL 2025. South Africa’s Faf du Plessis  was the captain of Bangalore in IPL 2024. He took over the captaincy from Kohli before the 2022 season.

Who is the captain of Chennai in IPL 2025?

India's Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain of Chennai in IPL 2025. He took over the captaincy from legendary captain MS Dhoni just one day before the 2024 season. He has also captained India in the Asian Games 2023.

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