India is a country where cricket is celebrated from the small streets of cities to big stadiums. Every boy in our nation has a dream to become a renowned cricketer someday. Even if they couldn’t make it, they still support the game as its ardent lovers. 

Our country has an excellent track record of producing the most celebrated cricketers who have won millions of hearts irrespective of their playing formats (the World Cup or T20s). These players hold unmatched records, figures, and stats in various formats (T20s/Tests/ODIs).  

In this blog, we will evaluate some of the prominent cricketers in Indian cricket, their records, milestones, and leadership skills that helped Team India to become a cricket giant in the world. 

When you play best fantasy cricket game, you must be very cautious while selecting the captains for your team. A captain not only contributes individually but also drives the entire game. Selecting the right captains, you can even score 2X. 

Check the below list to know the most popular captains in Indian cricket.  

1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni: The “Cool Captain” Has Changed the Definition of the Game

What are the qualities that come to your mind when we are discussing about Team India’s captain? A captain should be a good leader, a strategic decision-maker, and have excellent leadership skills. Dhoni has all these qualities. As a successful Indian captain, he ruled the field from 2007 to 2018.  

Fans and cricket enthusiasts called him “Captain Cool” due to his calm nature. He never lost his calmness, even in the most difficult situations.   

• ODI Captaincy: His stats were impressive. He won 110 wins among 200 matches. He is truly the most successful ODI skipper that India has produced. 

• ICC Trophies: He won all three major ICC tournaments. Dhoni won the T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013. 

• T20I Achievement: He was the captain for 72 T20 matches. Among these, he won 41 matches. 

• Test Leadership: His Test statistics are also impressive. He captained 60 Tests with 27 wins, with a win rate of 45%.  

Dhoni’s leadership helped India to flourish its cricket skills, and he made our country a well-oiled white-ball machine. 

When you play the best fantasy cricket game, select a player like Dhoni as your team’s captain.  

2. Virat Kohli: The Aggressive Captain of Team India

Ever witnessed a captain redefine what it means to lead in Tests? Here comes Virat Kohli. He captained Team India from 2014 to 2022. Under his captaincy, the red-ball philosophy has thrived.  

• Most Test Wins: Kohli’s name should be included as one of the most victorious Test captains of India. He won 40 victories from 68 matches.  

• Crushing Away Barriers: Under his leadership and motivational skills, India won many foreign series in Australia, England, and South Africa. 

• Win Rate in Tests: Kohli’s winning superiority in the field of Test cricket can’t be ignored. His win rate was 58.8%, best among Indian captains.  

• Example and Ethos: With unmatched intensity, Kohli emphasized fitness, aggression, and a no-nonsense attitude. 

When you play online fantasy cricket game in India, and include a player like Kohli, your team’s moral strength and performance are enhanced manifold.  

Recommended reading: Top 7 Indian Stadiums with Spin-Friendly Pitches – Pitches Reports Explained

3. Rohit Sharma: The Tactician Across Formats

Could a single captain excel everywhere? Rohit is the closest and successfully grabs his position as a leader.  

• T20I Powerhouse: Rohit holds the highest number of wins (49 from 62 matches). His winning percentage was 79%. 

• Modern Trophies: He helped India win the T20 World Cup in 2024. Under his captaincy, India won multiple Asia Cup titles across different formats.   

• IPL Legend: His IPL records are stupendous. He gave Mumbai Indians 5 IPL titles. He is one of the most successful franchise skippers, along with Dhoni.  

• White-Ball Consistency: His cross-format win percentages portray his adaptability and tactical captaincy. 

Rohit is also a great top-order batsman. He even opened many innings. His explosive battling style helped his team to win many matches. When you play online fantasy cricket game in India and need to select the captain for your team, choose someone like Rohit Sharma who can contribute in a dual way.  

4. Sourav Ganguly: The Architect of Aggressive Identity

What if a captain’s true victory is awakening belief? Ganguly’s tenure between 1999 and 2005 pulled India out of a rut and instilled a crude new fighting spirit. 

• Overseas Betterment: Played a key role in improving India’s performance abroad, including a famous NatWest final win. 

• Test Wins: He won 21 victories in 49 Test matches. His winning rate was 42%.  

• Visionary Influence: Ganguly is synonymous with daring ethos and self-belief. He was called “Dada,” who became popular for his self-assurance and personality.  

5. Kapil Dev: The Ultimate All-Rounder for the World Cup Glory

Did anyone imagine that India could lift the World Cup trophy in 1983? This was possible under the direction, tenacity, and management skills of Kapil Dev. 

• Historic Triumph: He was the first Indian captain to win the World Cup in 1983. During his era, India imprinted its name as a cricket-dominating nation on the global map. 

• Dual Threat: He was the most trustworthy all-rounder. He can contribute both bat and ball. He won 39 matches in 74 ODIs. 

• Memorable Knocks: His undefeated 175* vs Zimbabwe is still considered one of the greatest ODI innings till date.  

6. Mohammad Azharuddin: Elegant Leader of the ’90s 

Could charisma change cricket’s pace? Azharuddin was the captain for Team India during a transitional phase.  

• ODI Dominance: He won 90 matches in 174 ODIs. However, his records were crushed by Ganguly and Dhoni.  

• Cultivating Future Stars: Under his guidance, India has seen many rising stars like Tendulkar, Ganguly, and others.  

• Stylish Captaincy: He is always known for his elegance, stylish batting style, and tactical intelligence. He was a culture; his success was not just limited to numbers.  

7. Rahul Dravid: The Calm Tactician

Is quiet strength underrated? Dravid silently rebuilt integrity amid a stormy early-2000s phase. 

• ODI Stability: As a skipper, his ODI win percentage was 53%, portraying the team’s consistency and credibility.  

• Historic Test Series: Captained India to its first Test series wins in the West Indies and England in decades.  

• Calm Mentor: His captaincy period emphasized team’s unity, strategic depth, and truthfulness. 

8. Sunil Gavaskar, Ajit Wadekar & Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi: The Pillars

What defines legacy? Though these captains didn’t win plenty of trophies, they laid the groundwork. 

• Gavaskar: He was the captain for Team India during a transitional era. He helped the team to win 9 Test matches, highlighting technique and upright leadership. 

• Wadekar: His captaincy was full of challenges. He was the first captain to win a Test series in both the West Indies and England in 1971. He proved that India can establish its dominance in foreign soil.  

• Pataudi: Became India’s youngest captain at 21; shifted mindset from playing for draws to playing for wins and instilling fielding discipline. 

Their legacies resonate not in stats, but in how Indian cricket perceived itself. 

Download the best fantasy sports app in India and check all the records of Indian captains. This may help you to select the best captain for your fantasy team.  

Summary Table: By Format & Impact

Final Thoughts

From Pataudi’s brave mindset shift to Dhoni’s contribution in all ICC formats, India’s captains have been draftsmen of progress. They didn’t just lead; they redefined leadership across eras, formats, and generations. Their rulebooks? Discipline, revolution, calm under the intense situation, aggression, and firm vision. 

Want to reflect this leadership in your fantasy cricket journey? Head over to MyChamp11, the platform where strategy meets passion. By selecting real-life players, you can bring your own cricketing dreams to life with some fantasy captaincy of your own.