Every player in a cricket team is crucial, but without a good captain, the whole team would be scattered around and unable to play with coordination. A good captain prepares strategies and makes the right decisions in tough times. Over the years, several skippers have shown their incredible captaincy, leading their team to victories. But who is the best cricket captain in the world? We have listed the top 10 cricket captains of all time to determine this. Let’s check out the blog and find out who stands at the top of captaincy.
World’s Best Captain In Cricket: Icons Of Leadership
Here is a list to find out who is the best cricket captain in the world. We have listed them with winning percentages because winning matters in the game.
10- Saurav Ganguli (India)
With aggressive leadership, Saurav Ganguli gave the Indian team a fresh start after the match-fixing of 2000 and a reason to trust the Indian team to Indian fans. Though his captaincy was short, spanning only 5 years, Ganguly had a 42.85 win percentage in just 49 games.
9- MS Dhoni (India)
Captain Cool, Mahi, or MS Dhoni, whatever you may call him, is the best skipper India has ever seen. Dhoni’s ability to cope with pressure led the Indian team to many victories in all formats, which is why veterans called him the world’s best captain in cricket. He is also the third-best wicketkeeper in cricket. His ODI and test-winning percentages were 53.61% and 45%, respectively.
8- Graeme Smith (South Africa)
Graeme Smith took over South Africa’s captaincy when he was only 22. Despite his young age, Graeme had exceptional skills and led the team to 53 test victories out of 109, setting a record. Hence, he became the best cricket captain in the world for test games. His ODI and test win percentages were 56.99% and 48.66%, respectively.
7- Allan Border (Australia)
People might not remember Allan Border, but his captaincy between 1984-85 and 1994 was the foundation of Australia’s rise in cricket. While Border’s test match captaincy wasn’t very impressive, his leadership in ODIs led the team to 107 victories in 178 matches, making a win percentage of 61.42.
6- Virat Kohli (India)
Virat Kohli is a revolutionary who transformed the Indian team into an unbeatable force. During his leadership between 2014 and 2022, Team Blue recorded several wins in all formats. Due to his ODI and test-winning percentages of 68.42 and 58.82%, many people regard Kohli as the world’s best captain in cricket.
5- Michael Clarke (Australia)
Michael Clarke is next to be called the best cricket captain in the world. With impressive leadership, Clake had an impressive 51.06% win percentage in test games and a dominating 70.42% in ODIs.
4- Hansie Cronje (South Africa)
A match-fixing scandal spoiled Hansie Cronje, but his leadership of the South African team is undeniable. With a 73.70 winning percentage in ODIs, he is next to be called the best cricket captain in the world. Hansie Cronje has impressive records, winning most matches as captain.
3- Ricky Ponting (Australia)
A name that no cricket fan can forget is Ricky Ponting. He led the Australian team to consecutive World Cup wins between 2003 and 2007 and 48 test wins, second after Graeme Smith. With a 76.14 winning percentage in ODI, Rickey Ponting is the third-best cricket captain in the world.
2- Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
Clive Lloyd is the second-best captain in cricket in the world. He captained the team from 1974 to 1985. Lloyd’s test win percentage is 49, which is neither admirable nor deniable, but his ODI win percentage is 77.71, the highest for any skipper who led the team in over 30 matches.
1- Steve Waugh (Australia)
Steve Waugh is a legend and the best cricket captain in the world. It’s because he had an exceptional 71.92 winning percentage in tests and 65 in ODIs. Waugh led the Australian team to 16 consecutive test victories, setting a world record.
So, we can say Steve Waugh is the best cricket captain in the world. However, every skipper did a great job in their era and managed the teams to the best of their abilities. Hats off to such mind-blowing cricketers.
FAQ
1. Who is the best T20I captain?
With a record of 50 victories, Rohit Sharma is the best T20I captain.
2. Who is the father of cricket?
Dr William Gilbert Grace is considered the father of cricket.
3. Will Dhoni play in IPL 2025?
Yes, Dhoni himself has confirmed that he will play in IPL 2025.
4. Who is the Baap of IPL?
MS Dhoni is called the “Baap of IPL” due to his impressive feats.
